A/N- Here's the next chapter of Light & Dark, and boy am i tired, 'cause it's 10:22pm here in England! So no review replies or updates for 11 hours, 'till i get up! Also, notice my user name is named after Silverpelt's mum! Heh heh, that was a good idea. Read & Review please!

Disclaimer- No, i don't own warriors, but Silverpelt is mine. See, he's based on one of my Beanie Babies! Aww. Note- i also don't own TY Beanie Babies either, i just have a collection.

Chapter 8

Silverpelt was standing in the clearing at fourrocks. Everything was quiet. Nothing moved at all. It seemed like everything was frozen. This must be a dream, he thought. He gazed up at the sky. The stars seemed unusually bright.

"Hello, Silverpelt." said a voice behind him. Silverpelt spun around. What he saw shocked him so much he couldn't move. Silverfire, his mother, stood infront of him.

"Silverpelt," she continued, "I have a message for you. Trouble is coming to the forest. Many cats will die. But you must live to destroy the beast which will sweep up the land and hold it in it's paws."

"Why me?" asked Silverpelt.

"You were chosen by Starclan from the moment you were born. This is your one destiny. Your sole purpose."

"And my name?"

"There is much power in a name. You can have the whole power of Starclan backing you."

"How?"

"You will find out when the time is right."

"Will I ever see you again, mother?"

"Maybe. If all is goes well." She faded away, leaving Silverpelt standing alone. He felt a cold breeze ruffle his fur. Blackness closed in. He wasn't afraid. After all, this was the world of his dreams.

Silverpelt's eyes flickered open. He was in the medicine cats den. He felt stiff, but he could move much easier than last time. He got up and walked to the entrance. It was almost dawn. He saw Redpaw sitting in the centre of the clearing, alone. He faintly heard him whisper,

"What have I done? What will you have me do?"

Silverpelt walked over to him. Redpaw spun around. He was about to attack when something made him stop. The moon was shining on Silverpelt's fur in a familiar way.

"You." he whispered. "It's you. The cat from my vision. Silverpelt, it's you." He stared at Silverpelt. His gaze made Silverpelt's fur prickle. He shuffled uneasily.

"What have I missed?" he asked.

"Lots." replied Redpaw, the admiration fading. He was returning to normal. "Heavyfur was murdered and Orangestripe has been accused of it."

"Orangestripe wouldn't do that!"

"I know." he paused for a moment, as if what he said next would be enough to kill any cat. "I did."

"What!?" shrieked Silverpelt, his eyes growing wide with shock.

"Starclan told me to." he said, his gaze drifting up to the sky, "And soon they will take me too."

"You don't seem like Redpaw anymore." said Silverpelt, backing away.

"Life changes us all." Redpaw replied.

"What are you doing out here anyway?"

"Me and Greystripe are guarding Orangestripe."

"Where's Greystripe?"

"He's gone out hunting for something to eat."

"Oh, okay."

Suddenly, Brightmane appeared from the warriors den. He looked at Silverpelt.

"Back awake are we?"

"Of course, Brightmane."

Brightmane went across to Whitestar's den and went inside. He returned a few moments later with Whitestar.

"I see you're awake." Whitestar commented. He looked up at the sky. The first light of dawn was creeping over the horizon.

"Come." he said, "I have something very important to tell you." He led Silverpelt into his den. Silverpelt looked around in awe. Whitestar's den was as big as the warriors den, but he had it all to himself. A small nest lay in the corner. Some rabbit bones lay next to it. Whitestar indicated, with a flick of his tail, that Brightmane should leave. Brightmane glared at him for a second, before turning and marching out.

"Silverpelt," began Whitestar, "Trouble is coming to the forest."

This made Silverpelt's skin crawl. Those were the exact same words his mother had used.

"Starclan have shown me some cats who must die." he continued, "And they shall die today."

Silverpelt nearly jumped out of his fur. How could Whitestar stay so calm about this? It was terrible!

"Organise the largest party you can. We will attack Riverclan at sunhigh."

Silverpelt wanted to cry out 'No! You can't!', but instead he just nodded. He couldn't question his leader. But that was his sister's clan and he couldn't attack her. What could he do? Then Whitestar said,

"But first there is something I must do."

He led Silverpelt out of his den and Whitestar leapt up onto the highrock. Silverpelt sat infront of it.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here, beneath the highrock, for a clan meeting."

Cats began to creep out of their dens and sit around Silverpelt. Orangestripe tried to leave her prison but she was refused. Brightmane and Tawnypelt had taken over guard duty and snarled at her when she neared the entrance. Orangestripe sat down and washed herself, watching the highrock through the entrance.

Swiftpaw was last to emerge from the apprentices den.

He walked over to the cats and sat down, but Whitestar beckoned him forwards. He walked up to the base of the rock. His whiskers were quivering with anticipation as he realised what was about to happen.

"Swiftpaw. You have proved yourself skilled at hunting and fighting," meowed Whitestar, "It is time for you to become a warrior." Several cats cheered. Swiftpaw eyes glittered with excitement. Whitestar began the ritual.

"I, Whitestar, leader of Thunderclan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." His gaze switched to Swiftpaw. "Swiftpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" Swiftpaw was fighting to keep calm, but he replied steadily, "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan, I give you your warrior name. Swiftpaw, from this moment you will be known as Swiftwind. Starclan honours your enthusiasm and dedication, and we welcome you as a full warrior of Thunderclan."

When he was finished, Whitestar leapt off the rock and rested his muzzle on Swiftwind's bowed head. Swiftwind respectfully licked his shoulder, then turned and walked over to sit next to his former mentor, Greystripe. He had heard the story of the bravery of Swiftpaw, during the leadership of Bluestar, who had never been made a warrior before he died. Swiftwind felt like he was doing this for both cats. He thought he felt the presence of another cat, sat on his left, who wasn't quite real. He wanted to investigate but all the cats were chanting his new name now.

"Swiftwind! Swiftwind!"

Whitestar waited for the chanting to die down before he spoke.

"Swiftwind," he meowed, "In accordance with the warrior code, you shall sit a silent vigil tonight, and guard the camp until the first light of dawn appears over the horizon."

Swiftwind nodded, he turned his head to look over his left shoulder, and thought he saw a shape shimmering very faintly next to him. He purred.

"And now," declared Whitestar, as the noise began to subside, "Patchpaw, Greystripe and Swiftwind. You shall lead a patrol up to fourrocks. Check that Riverclan has not crossed into our territory. Do not question me. When you have finished, send Swiftwind back to camp to report."

The clan looked at each other nervously, then the three cats rose up and headed out of the entrance.

As the clan began to disperse, Silverpelt padded over to the nursery. Brightmane glared at him but Tawnypelt seemed to understand. She moved to one side to give him some privacy.

"How are you?" he asked Orangestripe.

"Oh, I'm fine." she replied.

"How are the kits?"

"How should I know?" she complained. But then she added, more softly, "I think they're doing fine."

She glanced down at her stomach. Silverpelt poked his head into the nursery and licked her ear. She purred loudly.

"By the way," she said, "I won't be alone for much longer."

"Oh," meowed Silverpelt, startled, "Why not?"

"Tawnypelt is expecting kits." answered Orangestripe.

"Who's?" he asked.

"Greystripe's, of course. Why do you think they keep agreeing with each other? They have been very secretive though. They're much better than us."

"Yes. I thought she looked bigger than usual." admitted Silverpelt.

Just then, Silverpelt heard Whitestar make an announcement.

"Silverpelt, Icepaw and Brokenpaw are to go out hunting."

"I'd better go." he said, "Bye."

"Goodbye." purred Orangestripe.

Silverpelt turned and left the nursery.

Silverpelt walked across the clearing. He looked around for Icepaw and Brokenpaw. Icepaw looked up from a conversation with Tawnypelt. She saw Silverpelt and bounded across to him. She sat attentively infront of him, although Silverpelt noticed her tail flicking with impatience.. Brokenpaw was talking to Mousepaw. He was just turning to come over when Swiftwind raced into the camp. He skidded to a halt in the centre of the clearing.

"It's Riverclan!" he cried, very much out of breath, "They've attacked us! Patchpaw is dead!"

Shocked cries sounded from the Thunderclan cats. Brokenpaw had been close friends with Patchpaw, especially before he had been made an apprentice. He howled the most and Mousepaw shuffled away from him.

"Is that true?" asked Whitestar, turning away from Tawnypelt. He had been talking to her about the fact that soon she would have to go into the nursery. He had been asking her questions such as 'Do you feel safe?' and 'Do you think your kits will be safe?'.

Whitestar walked over to the highrock and leapt up onto it. He didn't need to call the clan, they were already assembling themselves around it.

"Patchpaw is dead." he cried, "And as such, Thunderclan must take revenge!" He turned and looked directly at Silverpelt.

"Have you assembled a party of cats?" he asked. The clan was too stunned to realise that Silverpelt had never had a chance to organise or even be asked to organise a party.

"Um…" he stuttered, "I think that Brightmane, myself, Swiftwind, Icepaw, Mousepaw, Brokenpaw, you, Whitefoot, Redpaw and, if it's okay with you, Orangestripe, should go."

All the cats turned their heads at this suggestion.

"Orangestripe!?" shouted Brightmane, "Are you mad? She's a traitor!"

More cries sounded at this.

"Quiet!" ordered Whitestar, "Silverpelt, why do you think this?"

"If we are going to attack Riverclan, we must attack the camp. Therefore, we will need all the warriors we can find."

"A wise decision. Very well. Orangestripe will go."

Nobody argued. They were too shocked with everything that had happened. No cat could keep up. Silverpelt saw Orangestripe step out of the nursery. She wouldn't be having her kits for a long time yet and so it was still safe for her to fight. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to enter the nursery again for a long time.

But then, Brightmane shouted out,

"We can't let her fight! She'd probably side with Riverclan!"

This time, nobody backed him up. They were tired of his insults and complaining. And Whitestar had spoken. They wouldn't protest now. Whitestar leapt down off the highrock and called together the clan members who were going.

"Thunderclan, with me!"

He lead the clan out of the entrance and up the slope. They raced towards fourrocks. As they were running, Whitestar called out,

"Greystripe will be meeting us at fourrocks. There will be ten of us then!"

They leapt across the river and stopped in the clearing. Greystripe stood near the Riverclan border, leaning over a dead body.

"Patchpaw!" cried out Brokenpaw. He raced past the rest of the group and stopped beside the dead body. They heard him whimpering and sharing tongue with his friend for the last time. He sat down, his head hanging with grief. Silverpelt heart aching with pity for the apprentice and he took a step forward to go comfort him but Whitefoot held him back.

"Nothing you say can make him feel any better. Only time can heal this wound."

Silverpelt understood and nodded.

Redpaw looked around the clearing, then focused on the body of Patchpaw. Heavyfur and her son were dead, so only six cats remained. Suddenly he knew why Whitestar had sent out that patrol. He hadn't been worried about Riverclan, he had needed to send out Patchpaw. He must have known that Riverclan would send a similar patrol to kill the apprentice. This would then give Thunderclan a reason to attack Riverclan and kill Tatteredfur. Whitestar had been planning this all along!

Something else was nagging at him though. It was not guilt for the murder he had committed, or guilt at the fact that Orangestripe was taking the blame. It was a sinking feeling that he was about to die.

We will find a way to let you join us.

Redpaw remembered Starclan's message. Not only had they found a way to kill Patchpaw and Tatteredfur simultaneously, they had found a way to kill him too. He wasn't angry. If Starclan needed him dead, it must be for a good reason. Then he realised, if he wasn't going to return, he should let someone know what to tell the clan. Silverpelt already knew that he had killed Heavyfur, so he should be the one to give the clan his last message.

Redpaw stepped up to Silverpelt.

"Um, Silverpelt?"

"Yes?" asked Silverpelt, turning around.

"I'm not going to return from this battle."

"Your running away?!"

"No."

"Oh. I see." Redpaw looked at Silverpelt, almost trembling with fear. He knew that Silverpelt must have spotted that he was afraid. Silverpelt licked his ear.

"Did Starclan tell you?"

"Yes."

"Don't worry, I'll let the clan know."

"Thank you."

Redpaw turned away, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted off his chest. A look of determination crossed his face. If he wasn't going to return, he would at least take a few cats with him!

Frostfeather looked up from her kits. She was sat in the nursery in the Riverclan camp. A cat was standing infront of her. But this cat was not like any normal cat. The cat was silver with white paws.

"Silverfire!" gasped Frostfeather.

"Hush, my daughter. I have a message. Thunderclan are coming to attack the camp. You will be safe but you must make sure your brother, and this clan, lives. Now go quickly, and warn your clan!"

The she-cat slowly faded away.

"What was that?" asked one of her two kits. It was small with a sleek black coat.

"Hush, Ravenkit. Go and play with your sister, Loudkit."

"Aww!" protested the other kit. She was pale grey, with deep amber eyes.

"Do as I say!" ordered Frostfeather.

She stood up and walked out of the nursery.

Froststar looked up. She had been speaking to Lionheart, her deputy.

"What is it, Frostfeather? It must be very important to get you to leave those two kits of yours."

Although her leader was being humorous, Frostfeather could see that she was being serious.

"I had a vision." she said.

Lionheart gasped. Froststar didn't move.

"It told me that Thunderclan are coming to attack our camp. Now."

Lionheart looked at her, bewildered, but Froststar ordered her clan to mount a defence. She didn't tell them why, but they knew already, most had heard Frostfeather.

"Thank you." said Froststar.

Frostfeather nodded and turned back to the nursery. Her kits were waiting at the entrance. She hustled them inside and closed up the entrance as best she could. It wasn't for her, her mother had said she would be safe, but she didn't want any harm to come to the other queens, or her kits. Silverfire hadn't said that they wouldn't be harmed.