Disclaimer: Warriors by Erin Hunter

Going back in time now. They haven't yet started their journey and it is only a quarter moon after Fallingpaw's first Gathering.

Chapter 8

She tried to avoid the area. She didn't ever want to see him. Unfortunately she couldn't stay away. It was as if StarClan wanted her to be here: Squirrelflight often took her hunting near the ShadowClan border and now a quarter moon after Fallingpaw's first Gathering, they were back again. Owlface, the cat Fallingpaw once admired, was with them as well. He gave her an encouraging smile and then went off with Squirrelflight as they went to hunt, leaving Fallingpaw alone. Fallingpaw looked over the border to the shadowy trees. She sighed. She missed Brownpaw for some strange reason. She hadn't even spoken to him much, but she hoped he didn't think she hated him.

Fallingpaw turned away from the border and scented for prey. She hunted along the scentmarks, hoping he'd be there so she could tell him she was sorry for ignoring him. She also had to know if he would mock her for her name. She wanted to know if he'd told anyone about her.

Fallingpaw got her wish. She scented fresh ShadowClan before she saw the three cats. There was Brownpaw, a gray she-cat with large ears and a black tail, and a dark gray tom. Fallingpaw recognized him from the Gathering. He was Scorchtree. She wondered which one was Brownpaw's mentor. She stopped hunting and sat down to watch them.

"ThunderClan," Scorchtree hissed, catching her scent.

His companions looked around.

"I hope they didn't cross our border," the gray she-cat meowed.

"They didn't," Scorchtree answered. He looked right at Fallingpaw. She blinked back at him from her side of the border. "It's just an apprentice."

Brownpaw spotted her and Fallingpaw saw his tail raise up. It quickly went down and the light in Brownpaw's eye went out. He frowned at her. Fallingpaw was taken back. Was he angry with her?

"What are you doing here?" the she-cat asked.

"Hunting," Fallingpaw spat back. She knew she was being rude, but ShadowClan didn't need to feel they had to challenge everyone. She was on her side after all! It wasn't like she'd declared a battle!

"ThunderClan makes mean apprentices after all," Scorchtree rumbled. Fallingpaw looked up at him. She suddenly realized making these two warriors mad wasn't the best decision. They could tear her to pieces and there was no one to call for help.

"What's your name?" Scorchtree asked.

"Fallingpaw," she muttered. Now she could hear their laughter. Well, at least she'd see if Brownpaw had made fun of her. She shot a glance at him. His expression didn't change. He was still frowning. When he saw her look his ear's twitched back and he looked down.

Fallingpaw waited, but didn't hear any teasing. She finally looked up at the two warriors. They were calmly staring back. They didn't think she had a funny name! For once, Fallingpaw felt warmth inside. She stopped the smile from spreading. They wouldn't understand and they might think she was strange if she started grinning like a dog-fox.

"Whose kit are you?" the she-cat asked. She was still being nice even though Fallingpaw had snapped at her.

"Dewstep and Ivyflight."

"I can see," Scorchtree nodded, looking her over.

"I knew his brother," the gray she-cat meowed. Her eyes misted over as though she recalled something fond.

Fallingpaw tilted her head. The cat knew Darkfire? Well, of course, Fallingpaw realized. Darkfire had been in ShadowClan. He must have made friends there.

"Oh," she meowed. "I wished I could have met him."

"He made his choice," Scorchtree meowed. Fallingpaw noticed he was remaining neutral. His expression was neither sadness, anger, or joy. "He ran away after hurting your father."

Fallingpaw nodded. "Dewstep wishes he'd come back," she confessed. "He wants to see Darkfire again."

"Your father forgave him?" the gray she-cat meowed in surprise.

"Of course," Fallingpaw answered. "They are brothers after all."

"I know some siblings that will never get along," Scorchtree meowed. He shook his head.

"Who?" Fallingpaw question.

"Eveningbreeze, Stoneheart, and Fernstripe," the gray she-cat sighed.

"They were just made warriors," Brownpaw meowed. "Kinkstar introduced them at the Gathering."

Fallingpaw felt embarrassed. She hadn't really been paying attention then.

"I'm going to be a warrior soon too," Brownpaw continued happily.

"Good for you," Fallingpaw purred.

The warriors looked amused. Brownpaw looked like he wanted to say more but just then Squirrelflight and Owlface returned.

"What are you doing to my apprentice?" Squirrelflight hissed.

Owlface stood on one side of Fallingpaw and Squirrelflight took up the other. They looked very fierce indeed.

"We were only talking," the gray-she cat meowed.

"ShadowClan just doesn't talk," Squirrelflight hissed. "Don't trick her just because she's young. She can be dangerous when she wants to be. She has good fighting skills."

Fallingpaw wanted to glow with happiness. Her mentor had just praised her, but she didn't like the way Squirrelflight and Owlface were being hostile. They'd just been talking. There hadn't been any claws at all!

"We should be going," Scorchtree meowed. He stood up, signalling to the rest of his patrol. "We'll be seeing you again," he nodded to the ThunderClan cats.

"Yes we will," Brownpaw meowed.

Fallingpaw noticed he only had eyes for her and she realized, though it might have seemed like a warning to the other cats, he was telling her he would like to see her again. She blinked at him and saw him turn away quickly, a smile on his face.

The ShadowClan cats disappeared into the trees.

"Pick up your prey," Squirrelflight meowed. "It's time to go back to camp."

"Why did you have to be so mean?" Fallingpaw demanded, staying where she was. "They weren't doing anything!"

"They have dark hearts," Owlface meowed. "They don't need to show their claws to be dangerous. ShadowClan is cunning."

"They can learn Clan secrets from you just by being nice," Squirrelflight explained. "They aren't your friends. They are your enemies. What did you tell them?"

Fallingpaw blinked. They hadn't been friendly? Just trying to get information from her? What had she said?

"We talked about Darkfire," Fallingpaw finally meowed. "Then we talked about being warriors. Brownpaw is going to be one soon."

Squirrelflight sighed and shook her head. "Thank StarClan there wasn't anything else. Now get your prey," Squirrelflight ordered. She went to get hers.

Owlface brushed his tail over Fallingpaw and then followed. At one time Fallingpaw might have loved his touch but now she knew he was just telling her things were all right and she hadn't made a mistake. Fallingpaw frowned. She knew she hadn't. The ShadowClan cats weren't being cunning at all. They'd just had a friendly talk. If anything, Fallingpaw had learned ShadowClan secrets. She knew now that three siblings weren't nice to each other at all. She knew ShadowClan still remembered Darkfire. And finally, she knew Brownpaw really did like her. Fallingpaw smiled to herself. She realized she really liked him.

Does the relationship between Fallingpaw and Brownpaw seem a bit unreal to you? It will get better, I hope.

Until next time!