Woot it's a quick update!! As for reviews... I literally just put chapter nine up. So yeah...

Chapter 10

Nightpaw could just see Skyfeather's barn within view. She could smell her scent, along with that of fresh mice. Excitement was glowing in her heart the closer she got.

Slowing her pace, she cautiously walked up to the barn door, which was just a large square hole cut from the very bottom of the barn up to halfway from the top.

She spotted the white she-cat in the barn; she was curled up against a cube of hay. Something about her seemed different. She looked... bigger.

Suddenly, Nightpaw could hear a growling coming from behind her. She turned and there was a black tom. His eyes were silver-white, like the moon in Silverpelt. He had streaks of gray all over his fur. He looked at Nightpaw with a cold, deadly stare.

Nightpaw cowered back, hoping he wouldn't hurt her. She backed up at the tom got closer and soon felt her tail brush up against a side of the barn. She squeaked in alarm.

Skyfeather raised her head in surprise and quickly ran over to the muscled tom, standing between the young Clan cat and the loner.

"Don't worry, Flash, she's welcome here. She's family." She explained in a quick, hushed voice.

Nightpaw relaxed when Flash started to back away. Skyfeather turned toward Nightpaw, giving her a sincere smile.

"It's a little late to be out. What's wrong? Running away again?" She meowed.

Nightpaw stood up, licking her chest fur. "No, but I need some information." She mewed. She then noticed Skyfeather's figure. She was pregnant! Her belly was just slightly swollen, telling Nightpaw that she hasn't had her kits for long.

"Ah, so you've noticed. Yes, this is Flash. He's my mate. I knew I was having kits a couple quarter-moons ago." She purred. "Anyway, what 'imformation' do you need to know?"

Nightpaw straightened. "I had a dream last night. Flametail was with some... cat. His name was Crowtail. I was wondering if you know what was going on between them."

"Crowtail? He's from MouseClan. Well, he was." She answered, chilled.

"Was? So, he's dead?" She repeated.

"Yes." Said Skyfeather, dipping her head. He was murdered by a crazy cat from our Clan."

"Crazy?"

"Yes. I forget her name, but she was always spiritual and telling everyone how she could travel to the Dark Forest and to StarClan. She was your mother's best friend. No one knows how she died."

"Oh... Well, do you know Crowtail and Flametail's relationship?" Nightpaw asked.

"No... I just know they were friends. They'd always talk at Gatherings. I'm sorry."

"That's alright. I really should be going. Thank you, by the way."

XxXxX

Training for Nightpaw the next day was a breeze. She and Applefur did some more combat training, and went hunting afterward. Nightpaw had caught many pieces of prey, and she was heading into camp to set them down, while Applefur talked with Rosestar.

Cloudpaw came up to her, excited. "Guess what?" He squeaked. "Rosestar says I can come to the Gathering! Last time, I was too young to go, so now I can see what it's like!"

Nightpaw smiled. She really wanted to go, too. Cloudpaw flicked his tail, and Nightpaw turned to see Applefur walking toward her.

"Rosestar says that you can go to the Gathering! She claims you went above and beyond what you needed to do. Good job!" Applefur announced.

Cloudpaw and Nightpaw both purred loudly. Now she could go with him!

Nightpaw said goodbye to her friend and went to the apprentice's den for some well-earned rest.

XxXxX

She was there. In the Dark Forest again. She saw The Voice standing there, with her group of friends. There were five of them, including The Voice. She saw one of them clearly.

A closer look revealed none other than... Crowtail!

Nightpaw gasped.

"We are almost complete, Nightpaw. In fact, in only a few days will we be complete. But first, you must do something." She led her over to the pool that she was in before.

She stood there, confused. Suddenly, something began to creep up her paws. A black mas was crawling up her body. She felt it pulsing and moving. She was trapped. It burned her skin. It was suffocating her! She felt it coming up her neck. It squeezed the air out, so she couldn't breathe. Then, it slowly slipped over her face. Her body was trapped inside this sticky, black mass.

Laughter rose in the air, and then the next thing she knew, Nightpaw was awake in the apprentice's den.