A/N: This one's slightly shorter, but I think that the next one is quite long. I haven't got word count until I upload because I write on my iPod!

Also, I went out today so I might be slightly behind with uploading chapters because I haven't had chance to write. I will try to keep it at a chapter a day though :)

Remember to review!


Chapter 6:

"Please!" Shadowkit pleaded, his blue eyes round and appealing.

"No," Poppycloud meowed, firmly. The tortoiseshell she-cat didn't even look up from her mouse.

Moonkit rolled her eyes and bit into her sundown meal, a shrew. The sun was just starting to set and the camp was peaceful.

Shadowkit had asked to go out on a patrol everyday for the past half moon, and the answer had always been no.

"My strategy," Shadowkit had told her, "is to ask loads, so then she'll get bored and let me go!"

So far it hadn't worked, but Moonkit could tell that he was determined. Truthfully, she wanted to start apprentice work too. Moonkit hadn't asked Robinflight yet, but she was going to soon. She just had build up the courage.

"Look," Shadowkit padded over to Moonkit, nudging her with his head. "Moonkit wants to go too!"

Moonkit winced as her mother narrowed her eyes. She still hasn't told Shadowkit that she wanted to be a medicine cat. She willed Poppycloud to say nothing.

To her relief, Poppycloud just shrugged. "I'm not bothered whether Moonkit wants to go or not. You're not 6 moons old yet, so your not allowed out of camp. Rules are rules, Shadowkit."

Shadowkit sat down grumpily with a loud thud. "Why?! We're 5 and a half moons, we'll be apprentices soon!"

Poppycloud looked at Shadowkit sternly, "No means no, so you can stop pestering me because you know what the answer is going to be!"

Shadowkit lay down and put his head between his paws sulkily with a loud HMMPF. Poppycloud twitched her whiskers whilst Moonkit stifled an amused purr.

Moonkit finished her shrew and got up. "Can we play now, Poppycloud?"

Her mother opened her mouth to reply, when she was interrupted by a loud yowl.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath Leader Rock for a Clan meeting!" Longstar stood at the top of Leader Rock, his tabby head outlined against the blue sky.

"Go to the nursery," Poppycloud shoved Moonkut and Shadowkit towards the nursery with her nose. The tortoiseshell she-cat hurried over to sit beside Squirrel-leap and Thrushwing, turning when Thrushwing whispered something in her ear.

Wrenwing emerged from the nursery, Applekit, Tigerkit and Yellowkit frolicking around her paws.

"Moonkit! Shadowkit!" she called, beckoning then with her tail.

Moonkit sighed and ran over to the queen, Shadowkit following more slowly.

Moonkit sat down next to Applekit and looked up at Longstar.

"We've put up with WaterClan's prey stealing for too long," Longstar meowed once everyone had settled. "It's time to make them pay!"

The gathered cats yowled their approval.

"What prey stealing?" Moonkit asked, quietly.

"Shh!" Wrenwing's hissed, not taking her eyes off Longstar.

"When do we attack?" a brown tom named Mouspelt meowed.

"Tonight!" Longstar unsheathed his claws and scraped them against the rock.

The assembled cats' eyes gleamed in their hunger for battle.

"Are we attacking the camp?" a black tom with a white tail meowed.

"Yes, Flashfur," Longstar meowed, "We will send in a patrol to attack, and then a second patrol will join. We will fight until Troutstar admits to stealing our prey!

"I will lead Featherdawn, Squirrel-leap, Thrushwing, Flashfur and Sunpaw in the first patrol. Redstripe will lead Kestrelwing, Mousepelt, Heatherpool, Darktail and Honeyfall in the second patrol!"

"What?!" Rowanpaw called, indignantly, "Why do I have to stay?!"

"You and Volefoot will guard camp whilst we are away," Longstar gave him a stern look, "You are responsible for the elders, kits and queens."

Rowanpaw sighed, "Fine!"

Longstar sighed. "Assemble by the thorn barrier at moonhigh, we will leave for WaterClan camp then!"

The tabby tom leapt lightly down from the rock and padded over to his mate, Thrushwing.

Shadowkit turned to Moonkit, excitedly: "Isn't this cool?! We're finally going to show WaterClan who's boss!"

"Yeah..." Moonkit replied, vaguely, "Really cool..."

Moonkit was worried for her Clanmates, what if they were outnumbered by WaterClan's warriors?

She pushed her dark thoughts away; FireClan is the strongest Clan of all, they could win!

Poppycloud rose and padded over to Shadowkit and Moonkit. "You won't be awake at moonhigh, so say good luck to your father now."

Moonkit nodded, and ran over to her father who was talking to Heatherpool and Darktail. Shadowkit bounded after her, barging her out of the way to get their first.

"Good luck, Redstripe!" Shadowkit meowed as Moonkit pulled up beside him.

Redstripe turned to look at his kits, pride glinting in his eyes. "Thank you, I will fight hard to give FireClan justice!"

Moonkit nodded, hanging off his every word. "We know you will!"

"Come on, Moonkit. Let's wish Sunpaw luck!" Shadowkit darted across the clearing before she had chance to reply.

Moonkit prepared to run after him when Redstripe halted her quietly. She turned back to look at him.

"Have you asked Robinflight yet?" he murmured, knowing that she didn't want Shadowkit to know yet.

Moonkit looked over at her brother, who was happily chattering away to Sunpaw. "No, not yet."

"You should ask her soon," he meowed, "or someone else might get their first."

Moonkit nodded, "I know."

Redstripe touched his nose to her's, purring. "I'm so proud of you and Shadowkit. I'd fight every badger under StarClan for you and your mother."

Moonkit brushed her cheek against his. "I know."