Hey, all. Glad to be back, and once again I know this update is- let's see, three days late? Yup. Life gets in the way- what can I say? =) But thanks for reading, and I'd appreciate it if you could review, too. Thanks to all my loyal reviewers, too, you guys have no idea how amazing you are! So... see you all at the next chapter. Hope you like!

Chapter Ten: Unlucky

The following morning, Snowstar asked Emberfoot and Curlclaw to take some of the apprentices and go check out the WaterClan border, as they had suspected some prey being stolen.
Lionpaw was just sharing a small deer with Brightpaw and Frostpaw when Emberfoot strode up to them. His yellow eyes flashed at them as he announced, "We have to go check out the WaterClan border, and Curlclaw wants you three to come."

"Alright, we'll be right there," Frostpaw mewed, blinking respectfully at the warrior. He nodded and shook his mane, trotting back over to join Curlclaw.

"It's too early to go on a patrol. I'm still tired from that fighting practice with our mentors last night," Brightpaw whined.

"My paws are going to fall off if I take another step," Lionpaw agreed, swiping a tongue around his mouth as they finished off the small deer.

"You look fine to me," Frostpaw retorted playfully, flicking Lionpaw with her tail-tip, as she washed her paws and padded over to join the older warriors. Her friends followed.

"Good morning, apprentices," Curlclaw rumbled. Lionpaw dipped his head; he was happy to be going on a patrol with Curlclaw. He deeply admired the tall, wise warrior.

"We're ready," Brightpaw meowed.

"Are you sure, after that fighting I heard about?" Emberfoot meowed, chuckling. "Curlclaw and Dustleg said you three were exhausted."

"And we still are!" Lionpaw exclaimed. Curlclaw twitched his whiskers with amusement, and finally the patrol was taking off, plunging into the jungle as they made their way towards the WaterClan border.

"Why would they steal more prey?" Frostpaw asked her mentor as they galloped along.

Curlclaw glanced at his apprentice. "Who knows?" he rumbled, but Lionpaw caught his eyes flicker towards Brightpaw for a heartbeat.

"You don't suppose Meadowstar and Torntail are still sour about... what happened?" Lionpaw spoke up.

"Knowing WaterClan," Emberfoot growled, his powerful muscles rippling under his pelt as the lion bounded through the ferns and trees, "they'll be sour about it for a long time."

They came up to the WaterClan border in no time, and everyone slowed, coming to a stop and tasting the air.

"A patrol's close," Frostpaw mewed.

"Very good," Curlclaw purred. Frostpaw's eyes brightened.

"Should we avoid them?" Lionpaw meowed, looking at Brightpaw, who flattened his ears.

"We can fight," Emberfoot replied, misinterpreting Lionpaw's concern.

The cold wind whistled at their ears, and the sudden scent of lizard tainting its colorless breeze. Brightpaw lifted his nose, tail quivering. "That's a funny scent," he mused.

"Lizard. WaterClan like them," Curlclaw rumbled, shaking his mane and taking a large paw step back. "Now-"

"It smells good," Brightpaw meowed thoughtfully, pricking his black-tipped ears and peering towards the low trees that soon gave way to the river. This was a different spot than from the time Brightpaw first saw the river, and it was farther away.

"Does it really?" Emberfoot murmured, staring at Brightpaw through dark eyes. Frostpaw touched her nose to Lionpaw's ear, and he glanced at her, knowing exactly what she was thinking. And as they both glanced towards Brightpaw, the friends knew exactly what he would do a heartbeat before he did it.

"Brightpaw-" Lionpaw started as Curlclaw and Emberfoot began sniffing the air, checking for any WaterClan scent on their territory.

The half-Clan apprentice bounded suddenly towards a clump of ferns, muscles rippling, tail sharp as he fell into hunting mode. He leapt forward, pawing at something in the grass, and a flash of dull yellow told Lionpaw that a lizard was hopping up.

Eagerly, Brightpaw chased after it through the grass, nearing the WaterClan border.

"Brightpaw! Stop!" Frostpaw yowled.

"Hey, stop that apprentice!" Emberfoot gasped.

"He's gonna get caught!" Lionpaw growled, chasing after his friend.

Curlclaw sharply looked up, ears flattening. "Lionpaw, stop!" he called.

Lionpaw didn't hear the warrior as he bounded after his friend. "Oh, Lionpaw!" Frostpaw cried in distress, racing after the golden apprentice. And within seconds, all three LightningClan apprentices were gone, and Curlclaw and Emberfoot raced after them.

At the head of the five lions, Brightpaw raced blindly after the lizard, and he didn't realize he's crossed the WaterClan border until it was too late. Suddenly, he leapt forward, and grabbed the large lizard, gripping it in his jaws and biting down hard until it lay limp.

At once, several things happened at once. There came a furious shout, and Brightpaw looked up, heart beginning to race, to see a WaterClan patrol of tigers racing towards him, their flaming pelts gleaming in the cold sunlight. And suddenly Lionpaw and Frostpaw crashed into Brightpaw sending the three apprentices rolling down the slight hillside towards the large river.

At the sight of seeing the WaterClan patrol spotting Brightpaw, Curlclaw and Emberfoot quickened their pace, roaring in defiance as they dared the other Clan to touch their apprentices.

At last Lionpaw, Frostpaw, and Brightpaw thudded to a stop on the dry, cold bank of the river, Brightpaw falling a bit into the cool, clear depths. This was not the raging, noisy river they'd seen a moon ago, but instead the calm part of the river, where tigers drank.

Immediately, the patrol was upon them. The three apprentices scrambled backward, hearts racing, to see a slender, yet fierce-looking tigress leading the patrol, with two large males behind her. She let out a snarl as the broke through the water, silver droplets smashing as her powerful muscles gleamed in the sunlight. The two other tigers flanked her, heads lowered, lips pulled back in snarls, and the three tigers were towering over the
LightningClan apprentices.

Frostpaw gasped and scrambled backwards, Lionpaw sitting up and standing protectively in front of her, hissing, as the wet Brightpaw struggled up from the bank, eyes wide, heart pounding. He was shocked to suddenly see other cats that held the same markings he was born with, but on these powerful animals, the night-black stripes did not look likes a curse, but instead beautiful, like they belonged there. And from the way the tigress glared at him, he realized she felt like he'd stolen their unique markings.

"LightningClan!" one tiger spat as the three apprentices stood up, tails quivering, claws unsheathing.

"Leave us alone! We didn't mean to be here!" Lionpaw hissed, fur bristling. Frostpaw snarled as well, a sudden burst of strength making her tail bristle. Brightpaw stayed uncharacteristically silent, gazing at the tigers with a look of awe crossing his face.

"You're invading WaterClan territory, and we don't care if you meant to do it or not!" the other tiger snarled, lashing his tail.

"And stealing prey as well?" the first tiger asked in a silky voice. His yellow eyes fell upon the dead lizard that had fallen with the three apprentices down the hill, and Lionpaw swallowed uneasily, shooting a look at Brightpaw.

"Wait, Redthroat, Nightstripe," the tigress spoke, hissing, gazing furiously at Brightpaw. "I know you. You're that filthy cross-Clan cub. Son of Littlecloud!"

The tigers snarled, tails lashing, eyes bits of ice. "I don't believe it, Featherfoot!" Redthroat hissed.

Featherfoot stared at Brightpaw, eyes dark. "You're the reason my sister's dead, you ugly little brute!" she wailed.

Brightpaw froze.

What?

"You- you're Littlecloud's sister?" Lionpaw gasped.

"Of course she it!" Nightstripe spat.

"That means... you're my aunt," Brightpaw said breathlessly, eyes wide.

"No!" Featherfoot cried, rearing up and tossing cold droplets of water, raining down on the three apprentices. "I refuse to share blood with a disgrace like you!"

"How dare you!" Frostpaw hissed, tail lashing.

"It's not my fault your sister betrayed your stupid Clan!" Brightpaw snarled, sudden rage at being called a disgrace making his face twist.

"Featherfoot!" came a sudden snarl.

The three tigers looked up sharply, and hissed, falling back into the water, their fiery pelts gleaming with silver droplets, as Curlclaw and Emberfoot reached them, snarling and leaping down the slope to leap in front of the three apprentices, tails lashing.

"Curlclaw, Emberfoot," Featherfoot growled, lowering her head. "Do you realize you let apprentices trespass and take out prey?"

"They never stole prey!" Emberfoot retorted, batting at her with unsheathed claws.

Curlclaw flattened his ears, but controlled his voice. "That lizard was on our side; Brightpaw did not mean to chase it over here. We apologize."

"Well I sure don't!" Lionpaw growled from behind the two warriors, pressing forward with Frostpaw and Brightpaw to glare at the WaterClan tigers. "You insulted my friend!"

Featherfoot fixed with with a cold stare, then stared up at Curlclaw and Emberfoot. "Fine. We won't attack this time." She flicked her tail warningly at Redthroat and Nightstripe, shaking her head angrily. "But if I ever catch that half-Clan cub on WaterClan territory again-" She hissed, and the other two tigers snarled in agreement.

"It was a misunderstanding," Emberfoot pressed, eyes burning. "We promise you won't have to deal with him again."

Nightstripe snorted, and backed up, water crashing from his paws as he and Redthroat gave Featherfoot her space.

The tigress stared at Brightpaw, expression suddenly losing it's hatred as deep grief washed over her eyes. "Fine. Now get out," she said quietly, voice spiteful.

Curlclaw sighed, staring sternly at the three apprentices, as he nodded to Emberfoot. The large lion gave Redthroat and Nightstripe a last snarl before nudging Brightpaw, Lionpaw, and Frostpaw up the slope. Hooking their claws into the soft turf, they quickly climbed back towards LightningClan territory, Curlclaw bounding powerfully after them.

As soon as they had safely crossed the border, Curlclaw shook himself off, and rounded on the three apprentices. "I'm very disappointed in all three of you," he growled. Emberfoot stared sternly at them, tail lashing. Lionpaw felt shame prick his chest, and he bowed his head, along with Frostpaw.

"I can not believe you three just ran across the border like there was no problems with it. And Brightpaw, you must have known where that lizard was heading, you should have let it go!" Curlclaw's voice was quiet but angry, and Brightpaw bowed his head deepest of all. "You nearly caused a border fight, and it was all because you three were not thinking. Snowstar will have to hear of this."

No! Lionpaw felt disappointment gnaw at his heart. He wished more than anything he'd never chased after Brightpaw- or even more, that Brightpaw had never scented that stupid lizard. Why had he been so intent on catching it, anyways?

"If you hadn't been so eager to catch prey that only WaterClan warriors eat," Emberfoot meowed, voice harsh as he spoke to Brightpaw, "this would have never happened. Are you sure your focus is completely on
LightningClan, and not your mother's Clan?"

Brightpaw stared up quickly in shock. His face paled, and his heart thudded with dismay. Emberfoot had just sharply veered towards voicing Brightpaw's disloyalty towards LightningClan. Was he suggesting Brightpaw would prefer his mother's Clan?

"I would never-" Brightpaw began, but Curlclaw flicked his tail for silence.

"Come, you three," Curlclaw murmured, his anger gone, as he began walking towards the LightningClan camp. Emberfoot followed, shaking his head.

Lionpaw tail dragged in the dust as he padded slowly next to Frostpaw, feeling drained after the sudden day's events. He glanced at Brightpaw and tried to talk to his friend, but the apprentice avoided his eyes and looked away. Lionpaw felt utter pity for Brightpaw- after all, if a warrior like Emberfoot had expressed his doubt in his loyalty towards LightningClan, he would feel awful. He knew this was exactly how Brightpaw felt right now.

"That sure was unlucky," Frostpaw murmured, shaking her head.

Lionpaw sighed and glanced at her, twining his tail with hers in agreement. He wished the day could have turned out differently; he felt worried about what Snowstar would do when he heard about their escapade of the day.

Suddenly, Lionpaw thought of Pebbleheart's sign from StarClan. Even monsters pretend to sleep. Did they mean WaterClan? Was there some threat waiting in the angry Clan, fueled by Brightpaw's birth and the death of
Littlecloud? Perhaps the Clan was waiting impatiently for the right time to attack- after all, they'd acted pretty hostile today.

Feeling sudden forbidding make his blood run cold, Lionpaw trailed after the older warriors with a heavy heart.