Sorry I haven't Updated in AGES! This is kinda short but I hope its good nonetheless.

Chapter 6

Darkpool squeezed out of the nursery. Tomorrow was the day her kits were apprenticed, and she was constantly scolding them for disturbing the warriors' den. Hawkkit was often the leader in this, striving to impress his father. Tigerstar however would ignore his efforts, and instead praised Troutkit for teaching his brother. "I bet you can't climb as high as me!" Hawkkit boasted as he clung to the Shadowstone. Mothkit protested, "That's not fair! You're a warrior!"

"So? You'll be one too." Troutkit pointed out.

Mothkit bristled, "There's more to the clan than chasing frogs you know!"

Troutkit leapt on his sister with a playful roar. Tigerstar emerged from his den, and called, "Let all cats old enough to hunt at night gather beneath the Shadowstone for a clan meeting,"

The warriors emerged from their dens, but it was Troutkit and Hawkkit, who dashed to the bottom of the Shadowstone. The two were so eager to serve their father. Tigerstar gazed at them fondly, before swinging his massive head back up to face his clan. He began, "Cats of ShadowClan, I have decided there is no point in postponing these kits from becoming apprentices. Hawkkit, Troutkit, Mothkit, Applekit, Willowkit, and Skykit, step forward."

The six kits rushed forward, and Tigerstar began, "Hawkpaw, I want Blackfoot to mentor you. Let us hope he will pass on his wisdom to you. Troutpaw, I will teach you myself. Applepaw I want you to learn from Oakfur. I'm sure he will teach you well. Willowpaw I want you learn from Littlecloud. I'm sure he'll teach you well. Skypaw, you can learn from Boulder. He will teach you all that he knows. And finally Mothpaw you-,"

"With all do respect I need her." Runningnose rasped.

Tigerstar's amber eyes sparkled with interest, and he turned back to Mothpaw asking, "Is this what you wish?"

Mothpaw nodded, and Tigerstar rumbled proudly. He leapt down from his rock and strode towards Blackfoot. Darkpool gasped in realization of what Tigerstar knew. If his sons were apprenticed to the two highest-ranking cats in the clan, and his daughter a medicine cat, the role closest to StarClan, their family would be one of the most powerful in all the clans.

After the apprentices were led away by their mentors, Darkpool padded over to Russetfur. The warrior had been very lazy, neglecting her apprentice and sleeping in. Russetfur beckoned Darkpool over with her tail, and whimpered, "Darkpool, I'm going to have kits!"

Darkpool gasped, and purred, "Oh Russetfur that's wonder-,"

"No it's not! I'm not cut out to be a mother! What am I going to do?" Russetfur broke into a wail.

Her ambitious nature had guided her through everything, except her feelings for Blackfoot. She went on, "I have to do something about this, before its too late."

Darkpool gasped, "What are you talking about? Having kits is a blessing! It won't get in the way of your ambitions, maybe it will even help you."

Russetfur closed her eyes, and a small tear glistening on her muzzle. She wiped it away stubbornly, and sighed, "I…I suppose your right. There's nothing I can do about it anyhow."

Darkpool lapped her ears, and promised, "It'll be fine. You'll be a wonderful mother."

Russetfur closed her eyes with a sigh, and padded out of the camp. Darkpool could see Russetfur was worried and unsure of herself, and it pained her to know the orange tabby was more concerned about her ambitions than her kits. Darkpool padded away, until she heard the sounds of a young cat yowling. Mind whirling, she raced to the Thunderpath. She drew to a halt when she saw Applepaw face to face with Cloudtail. The huge tom's paw connected with her cheek, causing the apprentice to fly back in the grass. Before Darkpool could do anything, Oakfur was crashing through the undergrowth. He hurled himself on the white warrior with a roar, while Darkpool grabbed Applepaw and hauled her back. Applepaw explained, "We saw a bunch of ThunderClan cats… they attacked us!"

Darkpool helped the tiny she-cat stand, and instructed, "Go back to camp."

Applepaw opened her mouth to argue, before turning and fleeing to the safety of her home. "You are nothing but a rouge!"

Darkpool was caught off guard as a white she-cat with stunning blue eyes crashed into her. The white she-cat went on, "The only reason you are a member of ShadowClan is because Tigerstar's clan of warriors is dying out."

Darkpool shrieked in pain as the warrior sliced her ear. Suddenly, the weight of the white cat was lifted off of Darkpool. Tigerstar was dragging the warrior away, before he tossed her aside like a kit. He snarled, "Get out of here Frostfur."

Frostfur curled her lip, and spat, "You'll pay for what you did to ThunderClan!"

She ran off, the rest of her clan following. Though some ShadowClan warriors yowled triumphantly, Tigerstar and Blackfoot looked at each other grimly. Darkpool was still trembling, and when Tigerstar padded up to lick her, she flinched away and fled into the forest. She didn't want to believe what Frostfur had said, but in the recesses of her mind she couldn't help think it was true. Was it all a lie?