For anyone who cares, there will be twenty-two chapters in this book. And the entire series of 'New Dawn' will be from Snowpaw's point of view. Review or PM if you want MAJOR plot spoilers.

Chapter 9

Stormpaw had given his views to the other apprentices, and he told them that ShadowClan was luring them into a false sense of security. "We have to stay on our toes." He said sternly. "We can't relax. Not even for a heartbeat. We can't take any chances."

When Snowpaw repeated his words to Rubyheart, the scarlet warrior smiled grimly. "He's right. I wouldn't put it past Pebblestar to launch his attack just when we thought we were safe."

What were the ShadowClan cats waiting for? It seemed as though the attack would never happen. Snowpaw was sick of the state of siege in which she now lived. Not to mention the fact that she was becoming equally suspicious of Rainpaw, who, despite Pinepelt's orders that apprentices were not allowed out of camp alone, was making regular visits to the ShadowClan border.

When Flamestar voiced his concerns to Pinepelt, the tabby laughed it off.

"My son can handle any pathetic ShadowClan scum that he meets!" he rasped.

"The way he talks!" Snowpaw snarled as she selected a vole to take to Graybite. "You'd think Rainpaw was an invincible warrior from all the praise he gets!"

"I know, right?" Stormpaw chose a mouse and headed toward the elder's den. "And speaking of mouse-brained fathers, have you seen Crowclaw recently?"

Snowpaw looked over at the dark warrior. He was hunched over a half eaten wood pigeon and looked forbidding.

"He's been like that ever since Moongaze's warrior ceremony." Hissed Stormpaw. "Apparently, he's in shock over the fact that his daughter became a warrior."

"Huh." Snowpaw looked over at Moongaze. She seemed full of a newfound confidence that not even Crowclaw's dark looks seemed to be able to extinguish.

The white apprentice watched as Moongaze got up from her seat, and walked right past Crowclaw into the warrior's den. The young warrior did not look even once at her father before she vanished into the darkness of the den.

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Moongaze had been out hunting solo when she met Snowpaw, carrying a thrush in her teeth.

"Hey, Snowpaw." Moongaze meowed cheerfully. Snowpaw stared at her in shock. It was the first time the white she-cat had spoken without trembling.

"Hi." Snowpaw mewed. She was about to ask Moongaze how she was doing when the white warrior suddenly shoved her into a bush. "Hey! What the-"

"Shh!" Moongaze hissed. Snowpaw heard a rustling sound near her, and the bushes on the other side of the clearing parted to reveal- Crowclaw.

The black tom did not seem to realize that Snowpaw was there, as he stalked toward Moongaze, his eyes full of menace.

"So," He snarled. "You have disobeyed me. You, pathetic piece of mouse dung that you are, have become a warrior. I see that my earlier lessons have had not got through your thick head yet. She-cats are not fit to be warriors!"

"What will you do to me? Kill me? Your own daughter?" meowed Moongaze calmly, and Snowpaw was amazed at her bravery.

"If I have to do that to ensure that you give up the name of warrior, then so be it!" Crowclaw hissed. The black tom dropped into a crouch, stalking closer to Moongaze.

Moongaze shook her head sadly. She dropped into a crouch as well, facing her father. "You almost killed me once. You won't now."

Crowclaw scoffed. "I took pity on you, as you were a kit. I won't make that mistake again!"

What does she mean? Snowpaw thought.

"Snowpaw. Come out. You need to hear the truth." Moongaze's voice was laced with sorrow.

Obeying the young warrior, Snowpaw pushed through the bush, coming to stand next to Moongaze. Crowclaw started at her appearance, but continued to stalk towards his daughter.

"You know, as Stormpaw told you, that my father took me out, only three moons old, for a tour of our borders. When he returned, carrying my bloodied and torn body, he told Brownstar that it was a badger that had done it. He lied." Moongaze meowed, her blue eyes glaring at her father.

"When we reached the ShadowClan border, he turned on me and attacked me, for I had just declared my wish to become a warrior, like him."

Moongaze spat with disgust. "He beat me to the brink of death, telling me that I would never be a warrior. Once I had recovered, he allowed me to train as a warrior, intending for me to become a nursing queen, never actually being a warrior."

Now Moongaze's voice was wrought with hatred and fury. "He terrorized me, and I could never rid myself of my fear. But then you came, Snowpaw. I saw how you stood up for what you believed was right. How you never backed down. How you kept fighting, kept trying to prove you were worthy of a warrior name. You inspired me, Snowpaw. For now I saw that I did not have to follow my father's wishes. I stood up to him for the first time. And now,"

Moongaze laughed. "Now I defy you, father. I am a warrior of ThunderClan. And you will never control me through fear again!"

Crowclaw let out a yowl of fury and flung himself at Moongaze. As though the entire world had slowed down, Snowpaw saw Moongaze unsheathe her claws, and fling herself at her father. She saw a white paw flash, a spurt of scarlet blood, and Crowclaw fell, squealing to the ground, Moongaze standing over him.

Moongaze looked down at her father's writhing form, a large gash on his shoulder. "No." She meowed. "I won't become like you. You will live, father."

Crowclaw scrambled to his feet, his eyes full of malice. "You are weak!" he spat. "I would have killed you in a heartbeat-"

Moongaze pounced, pinning her father to the ground, snarling. "I am not weak! You have imprisoned me for my entire life! Now, I give you a choice, father."

Crowclaw stopped struggling. "What?" He snarled.

"If you hurt my younger sisters, or me, I will tell Flamestar of your crimes. You will end your reign of terror over my mother, and my brother. Be warned, father. Snowpaw has seen your attempt to kill me. She can back me up, and if you fight," Moongaze sank her claws into her father's wound, making him shriek with pain. "I will let you feel some of the horror and pain you forced me to endure."

Crowclaw spat angrily, but Moongaze sank her claws deeper, and he let out a squeal of agony.

"Do you swear by StarClan that you will never harm any more of my family?" Moongaze snarled. "Do you?"

"I swear by StarClan." Hissed Crowclaw, his blue eyes full to the brim with contempt and hatred.

Moongaze removed her claws from her father's flank, and the black tom sprang up. With a final, furious look at the two white she-cats, Crowclaw vanished into the undergrowth.

"Thank you, Snowpaw. Well, we'd better get back to camp. Come on." Moongaze turned back to pad back to camp. Snowpaw followed, and she knew that she would never speak of this day ever again.