Everyone in the clearing had stopped. Blood dripped from Archspine's mouth and her paws were stained with her victim's foul smelling blood, tainting the air with its metallic tang. Nutshade's head was turned and he was glancing over his shoulder, his eyes as wide as moons. Rushwhisper laid on the ground, and only moments ago he was convulsing and blood seemed to gush out of every part of his body. Rushwhisper's eyes were still wide open, and all the cats gathered around his body.

"GrassClanners are murders!" Raggedtear yowled, and Nutshade hissed at him. His claws dug into the ground, and then Marshfire stood in front of Archspine. "A life for a life. Your Clanmate killed my mother!" Marshfire lunged at Raggedtear, pinning him to the ground and choking him with her front paws.

Nutshade couldn't bare seeing another cat die today. He jumped on his sister and pulled her off, and she backed up and hissed and spat at Raggedtear. "Sandpaw and Raggedtear, bring Rushwhisper's body across the river. Tell Duskstar about this. Me and Turtlepaw will watch by the river and make sure nobody else tries to fish." Mothwhisper hissed loudly, a chill going up Nutshade's spine. Sandpaw and Raggedtear began to drag Ruswhisper's body across the river.

"You killed my Clanmate?" Turtlepaw questioned quietly while looking at Archspine with excruciating sorrow. Archspine looked at her paws. "He killed my own mother. I-I... I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry." Archspine looked up again and saw that Turtlepaw was leaving. He looked over his shoulder and sighed, then swam into the water. Turtlepaw muttered something but Archspine didn't respond. The GrassClan cats huddled together in a group, walking home.

The sky grew grey and even the grass looked like it was mourning the loss of two cats. Nutshade opened his mouth to say something to Archspine, but she'd probably just snap at him. Archspine was still covered in blood, and her fur was matted and her head was low. Runningmouse's flank was pressed against her's, and she just let him stay there. Not even one complaint. Nutshade then remembered that Weaselmask was dead.

His vision blurred as he remember the cracking noise in the air while Rushwhisper stood over his mother, and then he remembered the last words that ever escaped her stung him like a kit hanging onto the pelt of a warrior. He stopped and closed his eyes, trying to refocus, but he felt too overwhelmed to move. He opened his eyes again and finally heard the soft whimpering of Marshfire.

"N-Nutshade?" She croaked, nudging his muzzle with her nose. Nutshade blinked his eyes and looked at his sister, an agonizing look plastered to her face. She rasped, "The group is ahead- and I saw you stop, so I stopped with you. Come on, let's go." She wrapped her tail around Nutshade's, and together they walked ahead to catch up to the group.

Nutshade felt the overwhelming urge to yowl out in fear and sadness, with all the stress he was under. He wanted to fall to the ground and cry, to never wake up again. But he had to move on, he had to. For the sake of the Clans! For everything his father worked so hard to achieve.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Screams and cries echoed in the camp, the loudest coming from Grass-star. It was the middle of the night, and the moon was covered with clouds. In a few more days it would be the gathering, and intense rivalry would take place between GrassClan and QuailClan. The Clan quieted a bit and only the soft whimpers of a few cats could be heard. Nutshade was comforting Marshfire who was sobbing into his fur, and Grass-star spoke.

"Something must be done about this killing, who killed her? Who killed my Weaselmask?" Grass-star demanded, the most vicious growl expelling from his jaws. Everyone flinched. Nobody spoke, and Grass-star yowled again. "Answer me-" He was cut off when a cat spoke.

"Rushwhisper did."

Grass-star's pelt bristled furiously and his claws unsheathed. He whipped around and ran toward Hightree, and scratched the dark forest out of it, while yowling in pain. His father was in so much pain. The cats around had crouched and backed up a bit. Marshfire was pressed to the ground next to Nutshade, and Nutshade copied her. He had never, ever, seen a cat so infuriated. He could feel the anger and terror coming off of his father in waves, and Grass-star fell to the ground and screeched once more.

The Clan watched while the leader's screams died down. When he finished, his eyes opened and he exhaled. "Rushwhisper will be killed!" Grass-star yowled, and some cheers broke out, but from the cats who weren't at the battle. Archspine stepped forward. Her muzzle was a deep crimson, and her paws and claws were the same colour. Her blue eyes glittered, and she looked up.

"No he won't. Because, he is already dead. I killed him. I avenged Weaselmask." There was something almost evil about Archspine's expression. Grass-star looked at her and happiness seemed to spark in him, then it was extinguished. "Archspine, come to my side." Grass-star whispered, and Archspine stood next to Grass-star.

"Archspine will be the new deputy of GrassClan, for doing such a noble deed, and shall continue her mother's legacy." The Clan cheered her on, but some looked more anxious. "Grass-star, she can't possibly be the new deputy. She has no experience with organizing patrols, and she has never had a apprentice. How do you expect her to take over Weaselmask's job? How about someone like, Longriver? He's way more experienced." Rockstripe countered, his tail twitching.

Murmurs of agreement flooded camp. Grass-star raised his tail for silence and slowly turned his head, his eyes narrowing. "Rockstripe, you are wise, but she had killed one of my greatest enemies, a big threat to the Clans. She should be rewarded-"

"Grass-star, do you hear yourself? You're rewarding her for killing a cat. Now, I'm not saying that what Rushwhisper did was wrong, but I really don't feel like she is cut out at the moment for the deputy status." Rockstripe retorted, his blue eyes holding something Nutshade didn't understand. Archspine glared at Rockstripe, a low growl leaving her.

"Rockstripe, she will be deputy! And that is final! I congratulate my daughter. But, it is time to make it official. I say these words before StarClan, so that the spirits of our warrior ancestors, and our precious Weaselmask, may hear and approve of my choice. The new deputy of GrassClan is Archspine." The Clan seemed a bit worried, and then they all lowered their heads respectfully.

"We will bury Weaselmask. Also, to make this official, I would like Archspine to have her own apprentice." Grass-star yowled before all the cats left. They looked a bit unsure, and Longriver flicked his ears. "Who would her apprentice be?" He asked, and Grass-star beckoned for Breezekit and Tearkit. "These two kits will now be apprentices." Tearkit and Breezekit's pelts prickled with surprise.

"Breezekit, Tearkit, you have both reached an appropriate age for apprenticeship, and it is time for you to be apprenticed. From this day on, until you both receive your warrior names, you will be known as Breezepaw, and Tearpaw. Breezepaw's mentor shall be Nutshade, and Tearpaw's mentor will be Archspine. I hope they will pass down all they know on to you." Grass-star murmured, and Nutshade froze with fear. The names of the new apprentices and Nutshade and Archspine were cast into the air, and Nutshade looked around. Suddenly, he felt dizzy. He was a mentor?

He slowly got up and gulped, his shoulders hunched as he walked through the crowd of cheering cats. He stood next to Breezepaw, and blinked at her. Her eyes shone with excitement and she pressed her nose against his. Nutshade closed his eyes, and Breezepaw walked back. "I can't wait to train with you!" Breezepaw exclaimed, and Nutshade noticed Tearpaw hesitantly pressed his nose against Archspine's bloody one.

The meeting broke up and Longriver, Curlfur, Grass-star, and Rockstripe carried Weaselmask out to the burial place. Nutshade stood still, frozen in fear, and then looked at Marshfire, and her eyes lit up happily when they met his. She tilted her head and closed her eyes, and a steady purr came from her. She turned her head and walked toward Longriver. Nutshade's ears were pinned against his head as he watched the four cats leave with his mother's body. He walked to the warrior's den and curled up in his nest, sneezing a bit.

Archspine padded into the den and sat in her nest. "How do you like me being deputy, Nutshade?" Archspine asked him, and Nutshade's ears perked and he turned his head. "D-deputy? Oh yes! I think it is... rather extraordinary, to say the least. What do you plan to do first?" He meowed, shuffling his paws. Archspine looked at him thoughtfully. "I think a hunting patrol could do good, actually; no, a pretty big border patrol to go see how those cowards are doing over at QuailClan." Archspine responded with a sure tone, and yawned, closing her eyes and going to sleep.

She's ambitious, I'm worried for her future... For the Clan's.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Turtlepaw laid in his nest, wide awake. It was the morning after the big fight, and a new deputy for the Clan still hadn't been chosen. Turtlepaw's tail lashed, and Sandpaw stirred next to him. Sandpaw lifted her head. "Can you stop Turtlepaw? I'm stiff with exhaustion. Let me rest." Sandpaw groaned and Turtlepaw curled his tail around his paws. "Gee, sorry." Turtlepaw spat and dove his nose into the side of his nest, and sniffed.

"Turtlepaw! Sandpaw! Ryefern wants you." Mothwhisper called into the den, and Turtlepaw sat up and climbed out of his nest. His legs were quite sore, and he had taken a beating during the fight. Sandpaw took longer to follow. Ryefern was Turtlepaw and Sandpaw's adopted mother, and their adopted father was Raggedtear. Ryefern was sitting next to Raggedtear next to the small waterfall that provided them water in the camp. Turtlepaw looked up at Ryefern. "You called?"

Ryefern looked to Raggedtear, and then back to Turtlepaw and Sandpaw. "I'm leaving, to go to Twolegplace. I can't live here anymore, I don't fit in." Ryefern mumbled. Rainpetal seemed to hear what she said, and got up. Duskstar was sitting with her and calmed her by placing his tail on her flank. "What?" Turtlepaw and Sandpaw said together, and Turtlepaw noticed her claws unsheathe.

"I'm sorry. But Raggedtear will still be here for you..."

"Why though! You're our family-" Sandpaw began, but was cut off when Ryefern snapped at them.

"Don't forget that you're adopted! You aren't related to any cat." Ryefern spat at her 'kits,' and Turtlepaw backed up. His eyes were wide with fear, and Sandpaw pressed herself against her brother. "I'm going now. Be good kits." Ryefern raced off, leaving Turtlepaw and Sandpaw bewildered. Raggedtear walked away, leaving Sandpaw and Turtlepaw pressed against each other. Duskstar glanced at them, then walked away into his den. Rainpetal raced by them, yowling out Ryefern's name.

Am I going to lose Sandpaw too?

"Turtlepaw, I want you to come fishing with me. Sandpaw, you'll come too. I already asked Rainpetal to join us, she said she would." Mothwhisper nodded her head, and draped her tortoiseshell tail over Turtlepaw's shoulders. Turtlepaw welcomed it. He blinked at Mothwhisper, and saw a gleam of affection in Mothwhisper's eyes. Turtlepaw wanted to get closer, but he was afraid Mothwhisper may take it as a sign of something else. Sandpaw started walking next to him, their pelts blending together like bare dirt giving away to sand.

"Mothwhisper, will we be going to the river near GrassClan?" Turtlepaw questioned his mentor as her long legs travelled swiftly over the grass, her ginger patches on her pelt rippling in the dappled sunlight. She stopped and her green eyes looked thoughtful. "After, but first we're going to go to the Small Falls. Salmon could be good, couldn't it?" She mumbled as she kept going. Turtlepaw followed, and noticed a gruesome slash on her hind leg. She was limping a bit, and herbs coated the wound.

The vibrant green forest glowed as they passed through it, a doe and its mother running through the woods further on. Suddenly, Mothwhisper stopped and barred the two apprentices with her tail. "Its a group of foxes." Mothwhisper mewed, sniffing the air. Then she spoke again. "Three pups, two adults. We must be careful until they pass." Mothwhisper warned, and Turtlepaw could sparsely see over the high ferns that five flashes raced by, barking and yapping. Turtlepaw swung his head toward where they were heading, wondering why they were hunting deer.

"That's unnatural, do you think the forest is running out of rabbits and squirrels?" Sandpaw wondered aloud, and they all flinched when the two older ones jumped in unison from both sides of the deer, biting into its neck and dragging it to the ground. There, the pups viciously attacked the deer, and the doe veered toward the cats, and the older foxes followed it.

"Scramble!" Mothwhisper yowled as the foxes crashed through the undergrowth, their amber eyes glaring hungrily at the cats. Turtlepaw wasn't sure what came over him, but he was sure he became half GrassClan as he hared away like a rabbit. Moss and grass flew out from underneath his paws, spraying the foxes faces. He was a bulky tom; and he didn't know he had all this speed. Maybe with his long legs? His tail streamed after him, his eyes wide with fear. One fox chased after him, the other going for Sandpaw. He could see blurs of her cream pelt as he bolted down a path.

Branches and leaves whipped his face, and he spat out a mouthful of leaves. The foxes yaps grew louder as the sneaky creatures manoeuvred more carefully around the undergrowth, until the dark brown path grew more even. Turtlepaw was completely aware of how hard he was breathing, and the uneven thrumming of his paws on the ground. Log!

Turtlepaw braced himself for impact with the log, but to his surprise, he shot over it, and the fox's head collided right into the log. He heard the yelp of surprise, and Turtlepaw ran through the bushes toward the sound of barking. He ran sideways, and when he reappeared into the open, he saw a fox two whisker-lengths ahead of him racing after Sandpaw. The fox stopped and turned around, dirt flying in its wake. The fox's mouth foamed, and spit dribbled onto the ground. The fox lunged, and Turtlepaw ducked.

The fox caught his hindquarters and flipped over, rolling on the ground. Turtlepaw ran again, catching up to Sandpaw, his lungs burning. Sandpaw looked at him. "You're fast!" She breathed, then she flicked her ears toward the direction of camp. The distant sound of tumbling water filling his ears. He gulped, and jumped over a branch. Sandpaw was trailing behind a bit, but he was sure they weren't in any danger anymore. Turtlepaw saw the stream surrounding camp, and the waterfall a bit further back. He went to jump again but his legs buckled, and he fell face first into the stream.

He thought that he was being attacked, but it was just his stupid legs! He pushed himself up, feeling extremely embarrassed. He ran into camp, and his chest began heaving. "F... fox!" He yowled, and the remaining cats in camp began bristling. Sandpaw tumbled into the camp, and wheezed. "We lost it, but there's five! Mothwhisper still hasn't returned." Sandpaw said through gritted teeth, but at the same time, Mothwhisper was racing into camp, her eyes wide with shock.

"It chased me around half the territory! That foxheart!" Mothwhisper said breathlessly, and Duskstar's tail curled angrily. "That's it. We need more cats. And I know who. Turtlepaw, are you willing to go to Twolegplace with me? Mothwhisper, you're in charge until we get back." Turtlepaw didn't even get a chance to respond. Quaileye burst out of his den, his eyes shining with fright. "No! Turtlepaw musn't! The battle from yesterday still has us wounded and hurt. We can't dare to face outsiders." Quaileye protested, and Turtlepaw was pushed toward Quaileye.

"Give him travelling herbs. We leave at dusk." Duskstar mumbled, padding into his den. Turtlepaw looked at Quaileye with a confused expression, and Quaileye shook his head. "Come along Turtlepaw."

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

"I want you to be extra careful when you're visiting Twolegplace, no funny business, do not talk to kittypets, talk to only Duskstar, if Duskstar gives you permission to talk to any of the cats there, you will do as you're told. Do not disrespect him. Understood?" Rainpetal strictly told him, and Turtlepaw glanced up at her. "Er... Okay..." Turtlepaw, Rainpetal, and Duskstar were walking to Twolegplace. They reached Quietrocks when Rainpetal began to walk back. "Take care of him, Duskstar!" Rainpetal yowled as she raced away, and Turtlepaw looked up at his leader.

"Well, Turtlepaw, if you can help me successfully recruit cats, maybe I'll think about having your final assessment with Sandpaw earlier." Determination sparked within Turtlepaw. He was going to be the most persuasive cat in the world! Duskstar swam across the water, pulling himself up the rocks and Turtlepaw followed. The fox from earlier had scratched his flank a bit, but it would heal without herbs. Turtlepaw gasped when he was tackled, and looked up to see the uniquely pelted she-cat he had quarrelled with over Quietrocks quite a while ago.

He kicked her off, his muscles rippling. The giant tom that looked like a bear stood next to a plump looking Lilacstar- she was plump with kits! Lilacstar blinked up from where she rested, but didn't move. She was due soon. "Duskstar, we both know my Clan owns these rocks. Why do you attempt to take it back; with an apprentice?" She said, heaving herself to her paws. Duskstar didn't flinch, but his glare was cold on her.

"Greetings Lilacstar, and I haven't come to take back Quietrocks... yet, at least. Now, I'm travelling to Twolegplace. If you'd just let me pass-" Duskstar said, but Lilacstar cut him off.

"What for?"

"That's none of your business." Duskstar hissed at her, and Lilacstar sniffed.

"Cedarfang, Hawkfoot, Fleckquiver, please escort these two to YarrowClan's border and then YarrowClan will take it from there." Lilacstar dismissed them with a flick of her tail, and Hawkfoot shouldered Turtlepaw and she walked next to him.

They walked through a sliver of WillowClan's territory, and Hawkfoot and Turtlepaw fell behind the rest. Hawkfoot was muttering something about a GrassClan tom; and Turtlepaw looked at her. "Are you talking about Creekpaw?" He asked, wrinkling his nose with distaste. He had met the tom at a Gathering, and they weren't particularly friends. They talked a bit but it was little things, and Creekpaw seemed distracted; busy in his thoughts.

"Shut up! You don't know anything about him." Hawkfoot responded, her claws unsheathing. Actually, I do. Archspine told me a lot about him. "Hawkfoot, is that apprentice giving you trouble?" Fleckquiver asked, and Hawkfoot looked at Turtlepaw with a seething glare. "No, he's just padding a bit slowly."

"Give him a push."

"Do not put a paw on my apprentice." Duskstar hissed at Fleckquiver who was walking next to him. Fleckquiver shrugged. "Whatever, you're on our territory."

"Fleckquiver, stop." Cedarfang meowed, and Duskstar's ears flattened against his head. Fleckquiver looked at Cedarfang angrily, and then looked away.

Turtlepaw opened his mouth; "I know quite a bit about Creekpaw; actually." Hawkfoot's eyes lit up, and she spoke with a hushed tone. "Tell me what,"

"He's a tom,"

"Be serious!" Hawkfoot spat.

"He's quiet and he is quick-tempered, and he hates being told what to do. He seems to be struggling to expression his emotions toward Rosepaw; a medicine cat apprentice-"

"What!" Hawkfoot gasped, her pelt bristling with absolute rage. Turtlepaw thought he said to much. "Sorry; and that's a forbidden relationship. Couldn't ever happen." He mumbled, and Hawkfoot looked at the ground for the rest of the time. When they had reached the border, she looked at him. "Thanks for... er, telling me about him. Now get going." Hawkfoot nudged his flank and Turtlepaw scurried over to Duskstar. Duskstar shook out his pelt and launched himself across the stream, onto YarrowClan's territory. Turtlepaw gulped as he looked at the shadowy trees on YarrowClan's border, and he shifted his paws.

"On your way!" Fleckquiver headbutted Turtlepaw from behind, and sent him flailing into the river. Turtlepaw resurfaced and spluttered with confusion, and his eyes focused on the laughing WillowClan warriors. "See you around, Otterpaw!" Fleckquiver called as he and his Clanmates raced away, in the direction of Quietrocks. Turtlepaw's eyes narrowed and he sniffed, paddling over to Duskstar. Duskstar quickly lapped at his head. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, it was just a bit of a surprise, nothing too bad." Turtlepaw grumbled and cleaned his pelt, growling as he remembered Fleckquiver bumping into him. He'd hurt that tom one day.

Duskstar continued to walk, making sure Turtlepaw would follow. Turtlepaw's pads were stuffed with fallen pine needles, and the forest smelled musky and damp, reminding him of a rabbit hole after a rainstorm. The ground was also marshy near the river, and his paws were covered in mud. He cringed as his paws smelled strongly of earth. Rustling in a nearby bush made him freeze, and then a young silver tom popped out. He was carrying a small squirrel. He was much younger than Turtlepaw, and he reeked of YarrowClan, but with the faintest hint of- was that Twoleg scent?

The tom had luxurious fur. His chest-fur stuck out and made him look like a silver lion. Fear and uncertainty reflected in his icy blue eyes, and he turned his head. "Emberlight, there are strangers," He croaked out, his claws sliding out and his hackles bristling slightly. But that was the only sign of hostility from the kittypet like cat. Emberlight, a brown tabby she-cat came out from around the bush. Her eyes were narrowed.

"Duskstar," She meowed formally, but there was a edge to it. Duskstar dipped his head. "We're just passing through, we wish to cross Thunderpath." Duskstar said calmly as he looked at the drenched Turtlepaw, but Turtlepaw paid no mind to it. He was focusing on the young silver lion-like tom.

"What for?" She questioned, but there was a hint of a challenge in her voice. "You're obviously not going to moonstone. Why do you want to go to Thunderpath?" Emberlight's eyes twinkled, and Duskstar looked at a dead pine tree, averting his eyes from the she-cat. "We wish to go- do something there. A rogue has asked for help from my Clan, and is currently sheltering there. We need to go find his companions." Duskstar lied, but Emberlight seemed to believe him.

"Understood. Now, just cut straight through the forest here and when you see the rabbit wall, keep going left until you see the turtle log in the pond. Then keep going straight and you'll get to Thunderpath." Emberlight said hesitantly, and Duskstar nodded. "Thank you very much, Emberlight." Duskstar quickly hurried, and Turtlepaw noticed Emberlight mumbled something in the apprentice's ear, and his eyes glowed with mischief. He hared away, and Turtlepaw's pelt prickled with discomfort. What had Emberlight said to him? Turtlepaw caught up with his leader, his ears flattening against his soaked head.

"Fear-scent, it's coming from you. What's the matter, Turtlepaw?" Duskstar said while padding across the pine-covered ground, casting a glance over his shoulder. Turtlepaw's pelt prickled. "Emberlight murmured something to her apprentice and he ran away, I'm a bit worried now." Turtlepaw whispered, flinching at every sound. He screeched when a bird took off at least five fox-lengths away, and he ran towards Duskstar, cowering at his side. No, he shouldn't be acting like this! Especially in front of his leader! He couldn't smell anything either, his nostrils still stung from the river water.

"Ah! There's a lot of rabbit scent- I see something!" They had currently been climbing up a hill, and Duskstar was ahead of him. Duskstar abruptly stopped when he reached the top of the steep hill. "There's so many rabbit holes!" Duskstar exclaimed and Turtlepaw's paws churned the thick ground as he advanced. He looked down and saw that the hill came down still, but there was a cut in it, almost like one of those large yellow monsters took a bite out of the hill, and on either side were rabbit holes.

He marvelled at it. YarrowClan was lucky! His pelt prickled with irritation as he realized that it wasn't his territory, and therefore he couldn't hunt. The look in Duskstar's eyes told him he was ready to crawl through those tunnels like a earthworm. Turtlepaw blinked at Duskstar and sighed. "I think we go left now, looking for the turtle log. We should probably hurry now, the moon is already high in the sky-" Turtlepaw was cut off when a branch snapped somewhere close. His ears perked and swivelled, trying to detect where it came from. But the empty forest was no help.

"Probably one of those rabbits, come on now. I think if we pass by that cedar copse over there we'll reach the pond." Duskstar growled lowly, obviously not out of fear from the stick, but from not being able to eat one of those rabbits. The smell was so tempting. Turtlepaw hurriedly followed after his leader, his eyes wide as moons, trying to detect everything in the blackness of the sodden forest.

For a second he picked up on a fresh scent of YarrowClan cats, but then realized this was there part of the forest, so it made sense. He trailed away from Duskstar following it, realizing it was heading in the direction of water. He could smell it, it was thick in the air. He jumped when Duskstar snapped at him, and gave his tail a tug. "Don't ever do that, Turtlepaw! It looks like you're tracking prey, we can't do that. But you can keep heading that way." Duskstar pushed him, and Turtlepaw's limbs froze a bit. A movement in the darkness made fear pulse through his veins, and he looked at Duskstar who seemed to have his gaze fixed on a squirrel fleeing from them.

Maybe it was just another startled squirrel fleeing from them before they could attack.

Hopefully.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

My paws hurt, and they are clumped with needles and mud. Turtlepaw bitterly thought as he nosed through some ferns, that smelled oddly strong of- Haildapple. Why would the she-cat pass through this way? He sniffed the air again, and her scent seemed to vanish. Strong smelling mushrooms littered the forest floor in front of him, and they seemed a bit squished and trampled. I have a bad feeling about going this way. Maybe I should warn Duskstar that I feel like something may happen? No, he'll think I'm chickening out. Turtlepaw stayed low to the ground as he crawled over the mushroom remains.

He could hear the loud creaking of toads and frogs. The strong scent of algae reeked in the air. They were almost at the pond! He could see the scarce parts of water that wasn't covered with the icky green substances. Moonlight rippled across it, and he saw a log stuck half on the shore, half in the water. No turtles were on it, but that was probably because it was night.

He stumbled into the clearing blindly, looking at it. Now they just needed to keep going straight and they'd reach Thunderpath! Why had they followed their directions? He was sure they'd eventually be able to scent Thunderpath. He could hear the sound of monsters, but it was faint. He scampered to the water, waiting for Duskstar to appear.

But Duskstar didn't appear.

Where was he?

He sat down by the water, looking at his paws. He lapped at them, cringing at the foul taste of mud. He spat it out, looking around. Still no Duskstar. "Duskstar?" He quietly called out, but his voice was not answered.

Turtlepaw's eyes narrowed and he got up, following Duskstar's scent trail. He stopped when he heard hissing, and raced toward it. Duskstar was being cornered by three YarrowClan cats! He recognized two of them, Oateye and Haildapple, but the other one he wasn't too sure of. He gathered his legs and growled, getting their attention. He sprang over the cats, and parked himself next to Duskstar. Duskstar had a gruesome gash on his left ear, and his nose was bleeding. Turtlepaw's claws unsheathed, and he realized the third cat was the young kittypet like tom from earlier.

"Oh, it is the small kittypet tom." Turtlepaw sniffed, and the apprentice's fur raised and his eyes turned into small slits. "Do not mock me! I am not a kittypet, and never have been one!" He countered, and Turtlepaw couldn't help but let out an amused purr. "Oh just because you reek of YarrowClan, doesn't mean I can't distinguish that faint smell underneath your wretched one." Haildapple's lip curled back in a snarl, and she lashed out at Turtlepaw rather lazily.

Turtlepaw's eyes widened in laughter. Was this she-cat the mother of the apprentice? Oh, and I see this is your mother. I bet you both fight the same. He bit back to the reply, glancing at Oateye who was much more threatening looking. "We don't like trespassers, so we came to escort you back to where you otters reside." Oateye boomed, and the apprentice seemed to find this funny. Turtlepaw did everything in his power to stop him from lunging at the silver tom.

Duskstar growled. "We'll be leaving, if you just let us." He said through gritted teeth, but Oateye stepped closer. "Duskstar, you've had plenty chances not to bother YarrowClanners. Just your existence bothers us. Now we will wipe you free of this world, along with your pathetic excuse for an apprentice!" Oateye sent himself flying at Duskstar, but Turtlepaw countered it by leaping on him mid-air. Oateye fell to the ground while Turtlepaw had both paws on his shoulders, and he dug them into him. He knew Oateye had most likely inflicted the marks on Duskstar, so he'd get revenge by making Oateye feel the same pain-

His legs were wiped out from underneath himself as Duskstar had knocked him to the ground. He nudged Turtlepaw forward, just as Haildapple was about to jump, but instead she landed on top of Oateye. "Run, we can make it to the Thunderpath if we're fast enough!" The apprentice hissed and began to run toward Turtlepaw, but he had already started running. Duskstar was by his side in a second, and the apprentice was a whisker-length behind.

He knew the apprentice would catch up soon enough, so he stopped and the apprentice collided into his flank, stunning him. Turtlepaw hissed and swiped at his ears, and he relished the feeling as his claws sliced through his skin. For good measure, Turtlepaw kicked him in the face before the apprentice could take sight of what he was doing. Turtlepaw caught up with Duskstar, and Duskstar blinked at him gratefully. But that wasn't the end of the pursuers. Haildapple was gaining speed, her figure getting bigger as it approached. But Turtlepaw could smell the monsters now, they'd get over with ease.

The pine trees were thinning and he could see the shiny black rock with yellow stripes. Throwing himself at the path, he raced over, not even thinking about the monsters. Duskstar was glaring at him like he was crazy, and Turtlepaw knew he was going to get his ear chewed off for doing something so mousebrained. He yelped when he saw Haildapple right behind Duskstar as he was waiting to cross. Duskstar had sensed her and flew across the path, but at the wrong time.

A monster soared over the path, leaving Duskstar staring starry-eyed at the roaring creature. Turtlepaw screeched and right when he was about to go save Duskstar, the awful sound of cracking and a yowl filled his ears. Turtlepaw gasped and closed his eyes, the sound replaying over and over again, along with the frightful look of Duskstar.


Sorry for ending it like that! But I promise the next chapter will be good.

ALSO, sorry for not updating for a while! I've been insanely busy. But summer break has come and I can focus on it more!

Remember to comment! They help motivate me :)

- Kateo