*** I had such a bad writer's block. I just couldn't figure out what to make happen. If you have any ideas, please PM me or include them in your review. I finally wrote Amberpaw of ShadowClan.***

Ch. 8 Shattered

All the other apprentices were asleep, but I had stayed awake. I needed the news about the Gathering desperately. I know Littlestar had announced how Honeyfire had become a warrior. What I needed to know was the other Clan's reaction.

I hope they remembered that I was her sister. I'm sure many drew the conclusion that I had died. Littlestar wouldn't say because that would make ShadowClan seem weak.

Something stirred in the apprentice den. I turned around to see Blackpaw had opened her eyes a bit and saw me standing there. "Amberpaw, you really should go to bed. There is no sense in waiting for Duskpaw to return."

"I not waiting for Duskpaw!" I said indignantly. There was no way I was staying up all night for that gloomy apprentice. " I want to hear about Honeyfire."

"You are still mad about your sister." yawned Blackpaw. "Why don't you just accept that she is better than you."

"But she's not." I whispered dangerously quiet. "The only reason she became a warrior is because her mate is Littlestar's son."

"You keep telling yourself that Amberpaw." With that, Blackpaw put her head back down in the soft pile of moss and fell back to sleep.

I must have drifted to sleep eventually because I woke up to Flamepaw trapezing all over the apprentice's den. "Hey guys!" she shouted. "Littlestar is going to make an announcement about the Gathering soon. Let's go and get a good spot."

I reluctantly followed the young apprentice out into the clearing. Duskpaw was still sleeping peacefully. They must have gotten back really late if he was still in his nest.

Toadpaw plopped himself down next to me. I tried to scoot away, but he just followed me. "What do you want toad-breath?" I asked, annoyed.

"Nothing at all beautiful Amberpaw. I was just wondering if you are ever planning on becoming a warrior." he smiled his smile that made the she-cat's hearts melt.

Not mine though. "Pick on someone else toad-breath. Someone more susceptible to your charms." I ever so subtly nodded to Flamepaw. She was crazy about Toadpaw.

"You'll change your mind when I become deputy." he gloated. "I'm the best hunter out of all of you. Just watch, I'll be the marvelous Toadstar." That scene made me shudder slightly.

"Well, you are the oldest. If you weren't the best hunter, I would fear there is something wrong with you. Oh wait, I forgot, there already is." I commented sarcastically.

"Stop flirting you two." interrupted Blackpaw. "Littlestar won't speak until we are all quiet."

We did quiet down, but not without Toadpaw sticking his tongue out at me. I swiped my claw at him weakly. I didn't truly expect to hit him.

Littlestar stepped up onto the rock that served as the leader's stone. Silverstorm stood next to Littlestar. She looked like she hadn't gotten a bit of sleep last night. Her legs were shaking slightly with exhaustion.

"Something has changed in the forest." announced Littlestar. Everyone that hadn't been to the Gathering stared at her expectantly. My heartbeat sped up a bit. Maybe something had happened when she announced Honeyfire a warrior. I sneaked a quick look at my sister and saw it wasn't so. I don't think she would have a smile on her face if that was so.

"A band of cats appeared out of the hollows of the trees." This brought on a lot of confused yowls, mine included in the mix.

"You are all aware that Jayfire and Shadefoot received a sign from StarClan concerning Highstones. Harestar was planning on taking it for WindClan, but was stopped by the arrival of DarkClan and StarClan."

"What StarClan cat?" yelled Muzzleclaw. Why was he asking, he had been at the Gathering. I kind of worried about him if he forgot so quickly.

"It was Maroonpaw!" cried Littlestar. "She said she was sent from StarClan to allow the new Clan to live on Highstones."This brought on several shouts from the gathered cats.

"Why didn't Maroonpaw come to see us?" wailed Russetdawn. She had taken the loss of her only kit really hard. Larksong ran his tail up and down her side in hopes to calm her down. In the end he just provided a shoulder for her to cry on.

"The Clans seemed to just accept this, but I have a better reason than just StarClan saying so. I know for a fact that this Clan knows nothing about borders. So, we can accidentally hunt on their territory. We are no longer offending StarClan but hunting on their territory because it is DarkClan's now."

Some of the more evil cats in the Clan started to smile: Muzzleclaw, Shadowflight, and, of course, my sister Honeyfire. They liked the idea of stealing from the weak and defenseless.

I didn't like the sound of it. Maybe during leaf-bare it was okay, but not now when the prey was abundant. The warrior code couldn't be taken that lightly.

It was Nightwalker who spoke out first. "We can't do that Littlestar. It is against the warrior code to hunt on any Clans territory, even if it is this new Clan. And besides, ShadowClan has enough prey to feed the whole Clan." Always the voice of reason that tom.

"It isn't breaking the warrior code if they don't scent their boundaries. I want a patrol assigned to that border at sun-high and moon-high. No more do we have no enemies on that side." said Littlestar.

Silverstorm rang out the patrols in an exhausted voice. "Shadowflight and Honeyfire, you will wake my apprentice and patrol the ThunderClan border. Muzzleclaw, Scorchfur, and Amberpaw will take the new DarkClan border. Lightdawn, Nightwalker, Rockpaw, and Toadpaw you will go hunting. If any of the elders want to join you, they are welcomed to." She sleepily walked down to the warriors den and curled up on a nice piece of moss.

I couldn't help but let out a small smile. Maybe I would get to meet those DarkClan cats. Toadpaw looked a little disappointed but I just sent him a sweet smile. "You are the best hunter toad-breath, what did you expect. Make sure you catch something for me."

Scorchfur pulled on my tail to get my attention. "If you and that tom are done flirting, would you like to join Muzzleclaw and I on a patrol."

I could tell he was teasing, but why did everyone think we were flirting. He was just so..um... infuriating. There was a good word. Everything he said just got on my nerves. I let out a small snort and followed my mentor out of camp.

I could smell the carrion place as we got closer to it, but there was another scent in the air. It smelled of dirt and moss. "What is that smell?" I asked.

Muzzleclaw saw the perplexity on Scorchfur's face too so he explained. "It's DarkClan. What did you expect to smell on their border, flowers."

"Muzzleclaw, she was just asking a question." defended Scorchfur. "You must admit, the fact that there is another Clan really frazzles one's head."

"Ya Muzzleclaw." I said. "You were in the same situation as us last night. You didn't know what that earthy scent was. " I still wasn't really clear on what had happened, but he must have been.

He just sent me this look that said, 'I am the senior warrior here. You should be quiet.'

I did shut-up, but not for that reason. Through the thin bushes that lay beside the thunderpath, I saw shapes move across the stony ground. It was the first sight of DarkClan.

"Let's introduce ourselves." said Scorchfur. He must have seen the movement too. "Hey, DarkClan! I'm surprised you know about patrolling and everything." he called across the thunderpath.

Three cats poked their heads out from behind the shrubs. A light brown she-cat looked who looked like the leader responded. "We had some help from StarClan. We couldn't have done it on our own. Oh, I suggest you don't try to steal any of our territory. We have survived for generations fighting badgers for food." She turned on point and stalked off.

I turned to the warriors disappointedly. "They are just normal cats. They look exactly like me. I thought they would have fangs and wings. And they are big meanies!" I complained venomously.

The rest of the patrol was boring. Nothing exciting happened besides a frog jumping onto Muzzleclaw's head. He screamed like an injured cat until Scorchfur could kill it. It proved to be a light snack.

When I got back to camp, Toadpaw was the only apprentice eating. "Looks what the bog spit up." he taunted. Duskpaw and Blackpaw must have gone out to do some training. Just my luck.

I swiped my claw at the snake he was chewing on. My claw latched onto the scale and pulled it out of his mouth. I took a big bite and smiled. "Thanks for catching this for me." I added after I swallowed my bite.

"Hey!" he cried and made a lunge for his snake. I ducked and we got into a play fight. We only stopped when Blackpaw spied what we were doing. She apparently hadn't been training. Like I said, just my luck.

"Stop that you two." she cried out. "You're getting mud all over your pelt. Why Littlestar made you guys apprentices, I will never understand if you continue you act like kits."

I looked down at the ground because my face was beginning to feel hot. At least I know I had good o' toad-breath to back me up. "We were just playing Blackpaw. There is nothing wrong with that."

Blackpaw just rolled her eyes and sat down to groom her fur. I was saved again by Scorchfur calling to me. "I'm going hunting with Silverstorm, and she wants to see how you're progressing. So come on."

I thought it was kind of weired considering the two were mates, but I went along with it. I didn't really have a choice or anything.

They were talking as I walked up to them. "I'm sorry about your sister." mentioned Silverstorm. She was the first cat who seemed to remember that the two of us were related. I just shrugged my shoulders. As nice as her pity felt, I didn't want to seem like I wanted it.

We walked into the forest. The ground was damper than usual, but I was pretty sure I could handle it. Scorchfur and Silverstorm went in a different direction. They must want some alone time like all the couples I knew.

Now that I was alone in the marshland, I could really concentrate. I made my way to the Burnt Sycamore because there was always abundant prey hiding in the roots. My ears were pricked up for the slightest nose.

That is when I heard the sound of by demise. Well, not that I thought that at the moment. Really going through my head was PREY.

It was definitely a frog because no other animal made the same croaking sound. The popped their throats out and made them really obvious among the unmoving scenery.

I made sure to stay out of the way of puddles as I sneaked up to the frog. It just sat there unmoving and unblinking. I leaped high into the air as I had been taught. My claws made contact with slimy skin, but the frog just hopped away.

There was a huge splash as I landed in the puddle. I started to struggle as I realized that I couldn't touch the bottom. To scare me even more, something slimy brushed up against my leg.

I thought my end was near when Scorchfur and Silverstorm appeared through the trees. They ran soundlessly to me. A sizable branch was thrown in for me to grab onto.

I was able to heave my self up and paddle to the shore. I was attacked by the two warrior as they checked to see if I was hurt. Their paws ran over my pelt checking for any broken bones.

The only thing that was damaged was my pride. They had been watching me the entire time to see if I was ready to become a warrior. I wiped away a tear that slid down my cheek; I would never become a warrior now.

I ignored them the entire way back to camp. I don't even know if they were talking to me. My mind was somewhere else. It was in a bleak pit of my own demise.

They dragged me into Jayfire's den, so he could give me some medicine. The poppy seeds he gave me, I spit out as soon as he left. They would do some one else better.

I lay down outside the apprentice den. My head was hidden in my paws; I didn't want anyone to see me. Of course, with my luck today, Toadpaw came up to me.

"I heard what happened Amberpaw." he said. The tone of his voice was something I didn't recognize. I assumed it was a special teasing voice.

"Just go away toad-breath. I don't want to hear you right now. I'm not in the mood." I hissed at him with as much annoyance as I could muster. It wasn't much because my heart just wasn't in it.

To my complete and utter surprise, Toadpaw lay down beside me. " I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. Please don't hate me."

I didn't know how to react. To my own horror, I think I might have purred.

*** Please review. I think the next chapter will be Sparkpaw of WindClan. If you have any ideas about what should happen PM me of include it in you review. I might be awhile before my next chapter.**