Chapter 7

Disclaimer: I ownNothing but my ideas and ocs

Every cat felt wary as they padded through the forest heading home. Sunpaw tried to to think how tried he actually was. A soft sigh next to him made him look over at the young warrior he supported. He let his gaze travel over each of his clanmates. His father was in the lead with Stonepelt as they curried Tigerstripe's body back to camp. Owlflight followed after with Lionclaw limping after. He support Grayflight who looked almost as limp as Tigerstripe.

Redpaw looked fine besides tuffs of fur missing from her shoulders Brightpaw limped her fur bristled with annoyance blood dripped from her torn claw. Bushtail tagged after Darkfur who looked alert Amberclaw had torn ear and clump of fur missing from her flank.

He quickly shifted his shoulder to Ravenflight more comfortable as they walked. Her paws dragged along he felt worried about his friend but not just her and his clanmates even his partner to. A flash of black let him know Plagg was following after them.

"Hey keep up you two you're falling behind" Darkfur swift and calmly said looking over at the two. Nodding he nudged Ravenflight. "Let's pick our pace" he quietly meowed she sighed and they soon fell in step with Darkfur who slowed a bit. They walked in silence.

Sunpaw crouched his pelt smelled strongly of herbs Brownpaw was with him. Looking near the rock path he notice Redpaw and Ravenflight. "You look worried as a queen" Brownpaw meowed gluping the last of his mouse and looked over at them. "W-well she is my friend. Plus she refused any poppy seeds and thyme for shock and sleep" he added. "Sunpaw" he looked to see Brightpaw padding up. Brownpaw stood up. "I have to go Redpaw and Swiftpaw asked me to help with collecting moss" he padded off.

"Sunpaw, want to share some prey with me" she asked he sat up watching Brownpaw and Redpaw padded off. "Not hungry" he said and got up and padded off to his nest. He once he cured up Plagg appeared, "come kid, you can't be that tried" he mowed Sunpaw sighed and glad most of the cat's were outside right now. "No just I just need a break that's all" he said and curled up to sleep.

Plagg sighed and soon slipped between the apprentice's den and the nursery."Tiki" he called out and soon the red kit showed up. "You know this is dangerous" she hissed at hissed at him. "Hey" he sat tail curled around his paws and followed. "How's he holding up?" She asked him looking over at the den. "Worried as a queen but he sleeping now" headed and looked over at Ravenflight. "And her?" He nodded at the newest warrior. "Trouble but she thinks keeping vigle will help clear her mind" she added.

The two spirits chatted. Tiki turned to leave, "you know even if they didn't have us their destinies are still connected" she pointed out at the darkening sky. "But we can still give them a push" Plagg ground and then they both vanished cat's padded up to sit a vigil for Tigerstripe Ravenflight watched she soon found peace pass over her. Talonclaw dismissed her and she padded back to the warrior's den. "Over there" Dove song said as she padded past. Yawning she curled up and soon drifted off to sleep.

A dark gray and black tom paced his fur bristled. A gray tom glared at him from the shadows. "How could dare you loose" he hissed at him. The tom didn't budge from his glare. "Look we did what you said. They just sent a cat for help" he added The other cat yowled, "you could have stopped him fool" this caused him to flinch. "Hey look they even got Ladybug and Blackclaw to help" he saw look pass by the rouge. "You still failed" he watched as the other cat shift his paws. "What did you want us to kill them take their star stone" he snapped at the tom ears back in fear, "yes those should be mine and next time don't fail" he stalked off.

Ravenflight stretched as she sat up. The events of yesterday were fading away but guilt might hang over her head a while yet. It was nearing sunhigh as she pushed out of the warrior's den. The camp was mostly empty. "They must be out hunting right now" she muttered. She looked over at the prey pile a few bits of prey left on it. "Ravenflight" she spun to see Goldenstar padding up to her.

Sunpaw, Swiftpaw and Brightpaw were cleaning out the nursery. His ear twitched as he heard his father call for Ravenflight. He looked over setting down his moss. "Hey Sunpaw can you help me. My claws hurt" whined Brightpaw he twitched his ear. "Do it yourself Brightpaw" Swiftpaw snapped and ducked into the den.

He soon found his paws padding over to the two of them. A yowl from Brightpaw about something but he didn't hear it. She growled and stalked off back to work.

Goldenstar stopped to look at the newest warrior. He was not sure he should be doing this. "I hope Ivyfur is right about this?' He thought looking at her. "Ravenflight from now on I want you to take over with Sunpaw's training" she blinked at him as the words left his mouth.

What she to young about his injury? Sunpaw thought as he glisten to what his father said. He clearly to see her tail twitching at the words he said to her. "I-I'm too young and what about another warrior, yeah I sure thee is-" he hissed at her Sunpaw dug claws into the ground. "You will do this" he stalked off leaving the two young cats with glaring and shocked looks. "Ravenflight" he padded up and looked up at her. She jumped. "S-S-Sunpaw" she gasped, "Sorry about him he must have slept on a thorn" she shook her head, "no I-I'm, I-It's fine. He is your d-dad and leader" she added looking over at hi.

"Alright but please if you want I could ask him to chose another cat if needed" he turned to leave. "You, I will do my best" she said he nodded and hurried back to work. "Why are you talking to her" Brightpaw asked as the young warrior took a bird off the pile of prey and padded off to the medicine cat's den. "She my friend and temporary mentor" he added she hissed. "She nothing special, she always mess up" she added then looked over at him. "Come Sunpaw you can carry my moss since my claws hurt" she added. Sunpaw shook his head and looked over at Swiftpaw rolling two moss balls together.

Ravenflight set down the prey. Bushtail looked up, "Hey Ravenflight you need Ivyfur?" He asked sleepily. She shook her head. "N-no I was hoping to talk to you" she said he sighed and, "if it's about you taking over for me as Sunpaw mentor then you can be upset with me" he added. She blinked at him. "Ivyfur asked me if I had an idea who should take up my apprentice. I told her that you would be the right choice" she stared at her paws. "She thought and told me I made a good choice and told me she will let Goldenstar know" he yawned and closed his eyes. "Ok Bushtail, I promise I won't let any of you down" nosing the bird. "If you can eat here" she stood up and slipped out of the den.

Ravenflight and Sunpaw set out. She wanted to see how far he is and how much longer he will be apprentice. A list of the apprentices went through her mind. 'Ok Swiftpaw, Brownpaw and Foxpaw are now the oldest, Redpaw, Brightpaw, Sparkpaw and the youngest is Rosepaw and Dust paw. She was younger then Redpaw and Sunpaw was few sunrises older than her.

'For Starclan's sake please don't let me stutter in front of him?' She begged then opened her mouth. "O-Ok lets see how good you are at hunting" she could hide the hint of a shutter in her speech. He nodded and they broke off to do some light hunting. Since both were still removing after the battle with Stormclan and the rogues. She flick her gaze over him torn ear and few scratches on his shoulder too.

Sunpaw to be swift and managed to catch two mice and one vole both slightly plumb. "You're assume, I mean that was good work" his shone at the praise and the two started back to camp. Sunpaw took the mice to the elders just as Redpaw and Brownpaw dashed up. "Ravenflight, Ravenflight guess what" Redpaw gasped as she skidded to a halt. Both out of breath joy shone clear as day in their eyes.

"What, did something happen?" She asked her two friends. Through by the glen in their eyes she guessed it was good news. "Weeelll, we overheard our mentors talking and-", "cut to the chase, we might be having our assessments soon" Brownpaw said interrupting Redpaw. Ravenflight eyes widen, "that's great" the two nodded and looked around. "Where's Sunpaw?" Brownpaw asked she flicked her tail where Sunpaw was just exiting the elder's den.

With Redpaw in the lead they dashed over to their denmate. Her eyes traveled over to the medicine cat's den where Ivyfur slipped in and vanished. "Ravenflight" she looked to see her mother calling her over. She quickly trotted over to her.

Sunpaw stared at his two friends. "That's awesome" he purred they nodded. "Yeah not sure when they will give us our assessments but I can't wait" Redpaw's tail flicked with excitement. A yowl drew his friends attentions and with flick of their tails they hurried off.

He looked around and there was no sign of his mentor so he turned and headed to the fresh kill pile. "Sunpaw come share my squirrel with me" Brightpaw called he already grabbed a shrew. "Sorry Brightpaw" he slipped away she hissed.

Sparkpaw padded up to her sister. "Why does he ignore me?" She asked her sister as she sat down. "I don't know?" Brightpaw's eyes narrowed, "I bet Ravenflight's fault " talking the last bite of her squirrel she got up and padded off. Unknown to her and the others a cat watched from the shadows her eyes narrowed ears twitched forward.

The stars shone overhead. She crouched her spots made it easier to hide in the brambles. She hopped Blackclaw was to mad at her for missing last night's patrol/meeting. "Hello m'lady" she spun around to see Blackclaw standing almost rich behind her. She glared as he gave a merow of laughter. "Not funny" she growled looking at her paws and lashed with annoyance.

"So where are we going tonight?" He asked her as she stalked ahead. "Stormclan" she snapped and quickly crossed the border and into the deeper part of the woods. He bounded after and they disappeared into the trees and shadows.

The two cats walked in silence Blackclaw tried to talk and joke but thump as he ran into her. "Uh Ladybug?" He asked she just waited and the brambles parted as a lean striped tabby padded out and stopped. "May I ask why you two are here?" She asked gazing over both of them. Ladybug dipped her head. "I was hoping to speak with your leader about a swift patrol of your territory" she kept her voice calm and the tabby nodded. "Alright follow me" the three cats padded through Stormclan.

Blackclaw let his eyes wonder off Ladybug and gaze around the forest. He felt uneasy about being here only a day after the fight with the rogues. Gazing at the two she cats he could tell them same. "Why you so tense m'lady" he padded she rolled her eyes at him. "Same reason your fur is bristling fur ball" she added. But this manged to calm both down and soon the reach the torn tunnel and the tabby slipped in and they followed after.

Both were shocked as they gazed around at the camp. The warriors and apprentices where near the entrance the elders and nursery on the other side and connecting them in the back slope down then up and formed the leader's den and medicine cat's den a bit farther back. "Greetings Ladybug and Blackclaw" Icestar said as he padded up dipping his head to the two young cats. They followed suit.

The tabby she cat stood always away with three other cats she did not know. "You as well Icestar, I am here hoping you would let us patrol tour territory to see if any rogues are still around" she offered cats muttered around her. "And if you want I want to talk privately with you" he nodded and turned around."Wait here Blackclaw" she followed after heading to his den.

Icestar sat curling his tail over his paws she copied him. "Well what's on your mind?" He asked his voice calm and his gaze held wisdom. "Of course. I do want to have a sweep around we have done Nightclan since they got involved I want to check here as well" she waited as the leader narrowed his eyes in thought. "Very well" he meowed, "Ladybug there are group of young cats who need to talk with you. You see they were once part of the rogues who attacked us." He paused her fur bristled along her neck. "Don't worry they swore their loyalty to me, I know earning their loyalty will be hard but, they been insisting on meeting you" she sighed, "very well" she she signed and turned to leave. Icestar flicked his tail. "My clan owes you two more then my nine lives will ever give me" pride shone in her eyes.

Blackclaw crouched as he waited for his partner. "Are you going to join our clan?" He looked over at a small ginger and white she kit he blinked and chuckled. "Nope just visiting" he said she was about to ask something else, "Fire kit leave Blackclaw alone" he watched as Flamepatch padded up. "Sorry she my sister's kit" hedipped his head to the young tom. Blackclaw shook himself. "Oh it's fine" he purred soon Icestar and Ladybug appeared his eyes lit up, "hey their bugaboo" he said she rolled her eyes at him. "Flamepatch go get Badgerpaw and the others please" the warrior nodded and hurried off.

"Blackclaw I want you to patrol around the camp. Take Pineleaf with you" Icestar order him, he looked over at Ladybug. "You want us" asked a young lithe black and white tom. A light silver and white she cat, fluffy gray tabby tom and the tabby she cat from before. "Yes I heard you want to speak with me" the silver she cat's eyes lit up, "yes my name is Fernpaw, this is Reedpaw and Graypaw" she flicked her tail at the others.

Ladybug smiled at the and flicked her tail for them to follow her. "Wait shouldn't I go with you?" Blackclaw asked he looked over at him his gaze looked a bit hurt worried and something else. Shaking her head, "I need you to scan around for rogues" she quickly padded away and group of apprentice's followed after her.

Once they were sure to be far enough away from camp they settle down. "Alright mind explaining?" She asked them Badgerpaw nodded. "Yes. You see we were part of the rogues who attacked Stormclan. I feel bad about it. You see it was Hawkmoth's idea" she stiffed and drug her claw into the ground. "Yes we didn't know where he lives but, we all sign one at to watch as he turned them into evil things" Fernpaw added. Ladybug listen as they told her how he controlled them with his black butterflies and once they left they were free from him.

"I see, but there is something else" Graypaw nodded. "Until we joined up with him, he took Fernpaw hostage and forced us to help him" looking at the young she cat who nodded. "Yes he used me to get to my brother" she lashed her tail. Ladybug padded up the young cat. "You're safe here" Fernpaw nodded and then Reedpaw spoke up. "We do have an inside cat" she blinked at them."Fangtooth. He's my brother" Badgerpaw cuffed his paws.

As they entered camp Blackclaw raced up. She rolled her eyes he looked like a cat on catmint. "Blackclaw calm down I was only a few fox lengths from camp" he relaxed but his tail flicked. "Don't worry Fangtooth will keep us up to date and find away to tell you" she nodded and nudged her friend. "Let's go" they turned and padded off. Ladybug looked up at the starry sky the stars shone brightly she wasn't sure but something was about to change.