Hi! Okay, so last chapter I asked you who you thought was the cat that died. The answer is…Snowfur! Many of you picked Thistleclaw. Why is that? I actually told you in this fic—in Chapter 2, I think—how he dies.

Thanks for sending in your cats. Some I really liked. I also needed them to fill in some empty spaces.

Here are the winners and the cats they sent.

brackenfurlover sent in Dapplepaw.

Camryn sent in Fishwater.

Giggleluvsfang sent in Cloverpaw.

Snowfur sent in Wildpaw.

Phantomflower sent in Flowerpaw.

Caleb sent in Spiritkit.

Thanks, guys! And sorry if you guessed wrong! Don't worry, I'll have more contests like this.

Oh, Flametail, you have to have an account to post a story.

Enjoy!

*

ThunderClan

Leader---Sunstar—a ginger tom with golden stripes and green eyes

Deputy---Tawnyspots—a brown tabby tom (apprentice, Whitepaw)

Medicine Cat---Featherwhisker—a silvery-gray tom with amber eyes and long, feathery whiskers

Warriors---

Thistleclaw—a gray tom with one white leg and three darker gray legs (apprentice, Tigerpaw)

Bluefur—a blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes (apprentice, Runningpaw)

Patchpelt—a black and white tom

Halftail—a dark brown tabby tom with half a tail

Stonepelt—a gray tabby tom

Speckletail—a pale tabby she-cat

Lionheart—a golden tabby tom with thick fur around his muzzle like a lion's mane

Redtail—a tortoiseshell tom with a fluffy ginger tail

Queens---

Dappletail—a dappled tortoiseshell she-cat (mother of Frostkit, Goldenkit, and Sparrowkit)

Apprentices---

Runningpaw—a swift tabby tom

Whitepaw—a white tom with amber eyes

Tigerpaw—a dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws and amber eyes

Elders---

One-eye—a pale gray she-cat missing one eye; virtually blind and deaf

Rosetail—a ginger she-cat with black patches; the oldest cat in ThunderClan

Smallear—a pale gray tom with very small ears

*

ShadowClan

Leader---Raggedstar—a large dark brown tabby tom with ragged fur and a ripped ear

Deputy---Foxheart—a red tabby she-cat

Medicine Cat---Yellowfang—a gray tabby she-cat with orange eyes and a broad, flattened face

Warriors---

Nightpelt—a black tom

Cinderfur—a thin gray tom

Ashfur—gray tom

Brokentail—long-haired dark brown tabby tom with a bend in his tail

Brightflower—a black and white she-cat

Apprentices---

Runningpaw—a small gray and white tom; in training to be the medicine cat

Blackpaw—a white tom with huge jet-black paws

Dapplepaw—a tortoiseshell she-cat with one black paw and one black ear

Wildpaw—a golden tabby she-cat with fur that sticks out in all directions

*

WindClan

Leader---Harestar—a light ginger tom with a brown-tipped tail

Deputy---Talltail—a black and white tom with a very long tail

Medicine Cat---Mintleaf—a white she-cat with one gray paw

Warriors---

Tornear—a gray tabby tom

Morningflower—a tortoiseshell she-cat

Apprentices---

Mudpaw—a mottled dark brown tom

Barkpaw—a short-tailed brown tom; in training to be the medicine cat

*

RiverClan

Leader---Crookedstar—a huge light-colored tabby tom with a twisted jaw

Deputy---Oakheart—a reddish-brown tabby tom

Medicine Cat---Fishwater—a young silvery-brown tom

Warriors---

Graypool—a light gray she-cat with pale yellow eyes

Apprentices---

Mudpaw—a long-haired light brown tom; in training to be the medicine cat

Leopardpaw—unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes

Kits---

Spiritkit—a white tom with black stripes and light blue eyes

***

Tigerpaw's POV

"A cat has just been killed!" Sunstar called from the Highrock.

Everyone gasped in shock. "Who?" Rosetail called out.

Redtail stepped forward, bristling from head to paw. "She was chasing a ShadowClan intruder out of our territory. She wasn't paying attention—and—she ran—across the Thunderpath…" He shivered. "And a monster hit her…"

"I saw it too," Speckletail yowled. "I was hunting and heard her running past me, and then the monster came." She bowed her head in sorrow.

Heads turned as Stonepelt came into the camp bearing Snowfur's blood-stained body.

"No!" Bluefur wailed in grief. "First Moonflower, and now my sister! Is StarClan determined to take everything away from me?"

Dappletail rushed up to the grieving queen. "Careful, Bluefur. You don't want to do anything that might cause you to miscarry, even though you are barely pregnant."

Bluefur let Dappletail guide her to Featherwhisker's den for some thyme.

"We must not let this tragedy shake us," Sunstar's commanding voice rang. "We will go to the Gathering as usual. I need Featherwhisker, Thistleclaw, Redtail, Lionheart, Stonepelt, Halftail, Speckletail, Tigerpaw, and Whitepaw. Tawnyspots, you will take a patrol to make sure our territory is free of ShadowClan."

"Please, Sunstar," Whitepaw piped up. His eyes were brimming with grief. "May I stay behind this time?"

Sunstar's gaze softened as he looked at the white apprentice. "Of course. Tigerpaw, you may stay too."

"If it is all right, Sunstar, I wish to go." My voice was nervous-sounding, and cats turned to stare at me.

I knew I should be grieving that my foster mother was dead, but I really didn't feel any strong feelings. I'd been pushing those bothersome emotions to the back of my heart, securing them so that they would never emerge and show weakness. Anyway, every cat would die eventually—so why should Snowfur not die now?

Sunstar's eyes narrowed, and I knew he was displeased. "Very well." With a sweep of his magnificent tail, he led us out of the camp. I chanced one last glance at Whitepaw. He was huddled by his mother's limp body. I turned my gaze back to my leader.

When we arrived at the Gathering, I held my head and tail high. I was the only ThunderClan apprentice here, so I was determined to make myself look good.

Halftail bent down and whispered in my ear. "Be careful of the other warriors from different Clans. They might take advantage of your youth to get you to reveal some of ThunderClan's secrets."

I nodded, and the brown warriors padded away to talk with some RiverClan warriors.

"Hi!" A chirpy voice made me jump. I turned around a faced a she-cat who smelled of WindClan. She had copper-colored fur and one white front paw.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously.

"I'm Cloverpaw," she mewed. "I'd never seen you before so I figured this must be your first Gathering. Come on, I'll introduce you to some of my friends." She padded over to the edge of Fourtrees, and with a scowl, I followed her.

She stopped beside a group of about four cats. She waved her tail at a silvery-brown tom. "This is Fishwater, RiverClan's medicine cat."

Fishwater dipped his head to me, his eyes showing contempt.

"I met Fishwater at the last Gathering," Cloverpaw meowed. "He seems prickly at first, but he's actually great fun." She hopped around another RiverClan cat, a black she-cat with white splashes on her pelt. "This is Flowerpaw."

Flowerpaw mewed a greeting, blinking blue eyes at me.

Cloverpaw flicked her tail at two ShadowClan she-cats. One had long golden tabby fur that stuck out in all directions, and the other was a tortoiseshell with one black paw and a black ear. She had striking golden eyes that made my head swim.

"This is Wildpaw," Cloverpaw pointed at the she-cat with the unkempt fur, "and this is Dapplepaw." She nodded at the beautiful tortoiseshell.

"Hello," Dapplepaw mewed. She gazed at me. "Who are you?" Her voice sounded rich, flowing, and sweet.

Wildpaw turned her nose up at me. "Dapplepaw," she sniffed coldly. "This is a ThunderClan cat. Why do you even bother talking to such cats?"

Fishwater seemed as if he agreed with Wildpaw. Flowerpaw nervously looked at her paws.

"It does not matter where we come from tonight," Dapplepaw mewed calmly. "It is StarClan's will for us to make friends while the moon is full and our hearts are welcoming."

I scuffled my paws on the ground. "I'm Tigerpaw," I mumbled.

Dapplepaw purred. "Are you named after TigerClan?"

"I—I don't know," I admitted. "My mother died giving birth to me."

"Oh, that's terrible! I lost my father when I was a kit. He was killed in a battle with WindClan." Dapplepaw's eyes were filled with sympathy.

I didn't want her pity. "I never knew her anyway, so it doesn't matter."

Wildpaw huffed. "While you're betraying your Clan, I'm going to listen to the warriors." She stalked away with the others.

"Don't mind Wildpaw," Dapplepaw meowed when we were alone. "She's just really loyal to ShadowClan."

"Yeah." Why couldn't I say anything good to this cat? My tongue seemed to get tied up just by looking at her.

Dapplepaw glanced over at the four oaks. "I think the Gathering's about to start."

Indeed, as we sat in the crowd of cats, Crookedstar—the new RiverClan leader—stepped forward on the Great Rock. "Since I became leader, RiverClan has not had many hardships. The river is running with less fish than usual at this time of leaf-bare, but we are still eating well. Fishwater has taken an apprentice, Mudpaw."

A light brown tom nearby raised his head proudly.

"That is all."

Raggedstar—leader of ShadowClan—spoke next. "ShadowClan is also suffering the usual prey loss that leaf-bare brings, but we are managing. We have made two new apprentices as well, Dapplepaw and Wildpaw."

Dapplepaw let the cats look at her then gaze back at the leaders.

Raggedstar continued. "Yellowfang has also taken an apprentice, Runningpaw. We have made a new warrior too. Brokentail sits his vigil tonight."

I felt a shiver of uncertainty. One more enemy warrior to worry about. I noticed Dapplepaw was scowling.

"Do you not like Brokentail?" I asked her.

"He's a piece of rude fox dung," she hissed back.

Raggedstar raised his voice. "We have recently scented a ThunderClan warrior in our territory. What have you say of this, Sunstar?"

I froze. Raggedstar was talking about me!

Sunstar's expression was one of pure surprise. "I can assure you that I have not sent any warriors into your territory, Raggedstar. Perhaps some cat crossed the border by mistake."

"It was no mistake!" Raggedstar spat. "The scent was well inside the border, and we found buried prey reeking of ThunderClan!"

I glanced at Dawnpaw. She shrugged. "It's just one mouse they took. Nothing big, so I don't see what everyone's worrying about," she told me.

Sunstar spoke calmly. "Could it be that the cat who found the scent might be mistaken?"

"Brokentail's nose is fine, thank you very much. Are you suggesting that my son might have been lying?" Raggedstar bristled.

"I mean to imply no such thing," Sunstar growled. "You should be explaining why one of your warriors were in our territory. Snowfur chased one and was killed by a monster on the Thunderpath!" Sunstar hissed the last part.

"If this is true, I had no knowledge of it. How do I know you're not just trying to accuse me to cover up your crimes?" Raggedstar was glaring at the ThunderClan cats. I glared back.

"One of your warriors is dead?" Dapplepaw gasped.

"Yes," I mewed. "My foster mother."

"Oh, Tigerpaw, I'm so sorry!" Dapplepaw laid her tail on my shoulder.

I shrugged. "It's fine."

Harestar—leader of WindClan—was watching the quarreling leaders with faint interest. "WindClan has nothing to report," he meowed, "other than the fact that we have made a new warrior, Morningflower, and a new apprentice, Cloverpaw."

Sunstar cleared his throat. "ThunderClan—" He was interrupted by Raggedstar. "You've already had your turn," the ragged tom hissed.

"I will speak!" Sunstar raised his hackles and unsheathed his claws.

"Stop!" a voice yowled. I turned my head to see Featherwhisker staring in horror at the moon. Clouds were drifting across it. "StarClan is angry. The Gathering must end."

Panicked caterwauls echoed around Fourtrees, and Raggedstar gathered his warriors, preparing to leave. The other leaders did the same.

"Tigerpaw!" Dapplepaw yowled, almost being swept away by her Clanmates. "Will you meet me here one-quarter moon from now?" Her eyes were filled with hopefulness.

A strange feeling took control of my heart. "Sure," I meowed.

Dapplepaw started to tell me something, but she was dragged away by Wildpaw.

I then noticed Thistleclaw sitting at the edge of the clearing with his gaze fixed on Dapplepaw. There was something in his eyes that I didn't like to see.

"Come on, Tigerpaw, you're being left behind," Speckletail meowed. She nudged my to my paws—when had I collapsed?—and we headed for camp with the other ThunderClan warriors.

Upon arriving, Whitepaw ran to me. "Why didn't you stay?" he asked, hurt in his voice. "Snowfur was like your mother too. It's like you didn't even care that she died."

"Well, I really wanted to go to the Gathering!" I defended myself angrily.

Whitepaw sighed and pushed his nose into his mother's lifeless body. "Take her with honor, StarClan," he murmured.

I gave in and joined the vigil for my dead foster mother. Her fur was limp and her body seemed small and dark in the night. Though the moon was shining, it didn't make any difference.

Bluefur came over and sat beside me. I could feel her gaze on me, and wariness flooded from her pelt. It seemed that she was rethinking her ideas about me.

I didn't care. She was only one warrior, and with hard work, I would soon change her views. She would think of me as the strongest cat in the Clans.

I would make every cat in the Clans respect me. Especially…Dapplepaw.

*

Meanwhile, back in StarClan…

Dusktail padded restlessly around the pool. "A cat is coming to join us," he meowed. "Tigerpaw's foster mother, Snowfur, in fact."

"My daughter!" A white she-cat wailed.

"Hush, Moonflower," Nightwhisker snapped. "At least your daughter will be safe here in StarClan. My daughter is not."

Moonflower blinked sympathetically. Every cat in StarClan knew now of the threat of Tigerpaw, and what Shadestorm had done to try and protect him.

"Look!" Leapkit gasped.

A ball of light appeared, and a cat stumbled out of it—a white she-cat with blue eyes.

Moonflower stepped in front of the new arrival. "Welcome, daughter. I wish I did not have to welcome you so soon."

Snowfur yowled. "What happened? Mother? Am I dead?" She glanced behind herself, and saw the body of a limp white cat.

"Yes, daughter. A monster hit you." Moonflower waved her tail at the pool, where it showed an image of Snowfur chasing a cat across the Thunderpath and getting hit by a monster.

Snowfur wailed. "Now I'll never see Whitepaw or Tigerpaw become warriors!"

All the cats—besides Snowfur—exchanged dark looks.

"It is time for your ceremony," Moonflower meowed. "Snowfur, you have been an intelligent and fiercely brave warrior of ThunderClan, and have given up your life in the service of your Clanmates. Is it your wish to enter StarClan, and therefore protect all the Clans for the rest of eternity?"

"I—I do," Snowfur sighed. Why did she have to die now?

"Then we welcome you as a full member of StarClan." The StarClan cats began cheering, "Snowfur! Snowfur!" All the voices sounded like all the cats Snowfur had ever known, but then they also seemed as one.

"I must show you something," Moonflower told her daughter urgently. She led her over to the pool, where the images that depicted Tigerpaw were now appearing. Snowfur stared in horror as the life of her foster kit was played right before her eyes. Tigerpaw becoming a warrior…betraying the Clan…

"How?" she whispered.

"Thistleclaw," Dusktail mewed grimly.

"We cannot tell the Clans yet of what Tigerpaw will become. And who knows?" Moonflower meowed in a falsely cheery voice. "He might change."

"I doubt it," Nightwhisker hissed. "If he continues on this path, he will do each and every one of those things."

Snowfur was silent.

*

There you go! I know, it's a bit short…Hey, guess what will happen between Tigerpaw and Dapplepaw in a review. If anyone guesses right, I will PM you and ask you what you want your prize to be—okay?

Hey, Scarlett-Husky, since you were the 45th reviewer, what do you want? Your own character? A virtual plushie?

People, I'm trying to hit seventy reviews on this. Could you help me out? 70th reviewer gets a special prize!

By the way, I might (I'm not saying I will) block anonymous reviews because an anonymous someone named Silverpelt-Hawksky keeps putting rude things on here over and over and I keep having to delete them. I got five reviews from that person that said "This sucks!" So, if I keep getting those, I'm going to block anonymous reviews. I don't want to, because I know there are people without accounts who like to give good review (I used to be one of them) and I hate to take away that privilege.

So review! (Nicely)

Ciao!

~LenzieKat~

(P.S. I won't update again unless I get seventy reviews. So either review or never read this again! MUAHAHA!)