First off, I want to address all of my reviewers at once because I'm too lazy to PM you all at once and I can't PM some of you. I'm glad you all like my story; it means a lot to me! I worked hard and fell behind school one week because I was writing this and another story. Enjoy! Oh, and if anyone asks, I am an apple. Its randomness, deal with it. And I just got internet while suffering writers block. I wish there was a cure for that. If I'm making anyone Mary-sueish, well, too bad! I have no idea what that means! Ha!
A few weeks later, Firepaw was lying down in her nest. She felt sad still, and didn't want to go to tonight's gathering, but Willowstar was making her.
"We need you to back us up on Lichenfur's attack. Besides, I bet you'll want to see Skypaw." Willowstar had explained.
Ashpaw had tried to comfort her, but it hadn't worked. Firepaw just waited sadly in her nest for Willowstar to call them. A shadow blocked the entrance.
"Firepaw, I know you're sad, but you need to start finding happiness with your clanmates. They know you are sad, and they are sad to, but if you turn down their comfort, then you won't be happy." Mothpelt soothed.
Firepaw huffed softly and turned over. Mothpelt watched her. She could see her ribs.
"At least eat something! You need to keep up your strength Firepaw." She pleaded.
Firepaw sighed, and consented to a tiny mouse. She finished it and went back to her den to do who knows what.
Ashpaw stared after her. She seemed to have literally shrunken, and stopped caring for her pelt. He ran after her.
"Firepaw, are you okay? You're so skinny, you should eat more, and you could die." He exclaimed.
Firepaw just shot him a look that said, "I don't want to talk about it" and that ended it. She padded into the den and lay down. Instantly, Snowdrift nudged her to her paws.
"Come on Firepaw, you need to stop this at once. The gathering will start soon, and you need to be ready. Get up!" She said forcefully.
Firepaw sighed. Snowdrift was right; she couldn't lie around moping forever! Besides, she wanted to see what would happen to Lichenfur. She climbed out of the den once again, and stretched in the dying sunlight, yawning, and her legs shivered.
"ThunderClan, we leave!" Willowstar called.
Firepaw followed the other cats out of the clearing. She stuck close to Snowdrift, but was aware of Ashpaw, Tawnytail, and Jayfrost surrounding her to protect her. They arrived at the clearing where everyone was waiting. She realized that they were the second to arrive, after WindClan. Willowstar jumped on the Great Rock with Echostar and the two started to talk. Firepaw searched for Skypaw, and found her with Longwhisker.
Skypaw immediately spotted her, and they ran towards each other.
"Firepaw, are you okay? Longtail attacked us with some ShadowClan cats to make Eagleclaw pay for what he had done. He killed Silverlake, and Eagleclaw died later from his wounds, but they killed Longtail." Skypaw asked; her distress clear as the river.
"No, Lichenfur hit us even worse. She killed Appleleaf, Fernstep, and Cloudpaw, than Emberstone also died from his wounds later on." Firepaw said, fresh waves of grief crashing on her heart.
Skypaw stroked her back with her shoulder, murmuring sympathetically. Firepaw let her comfort her for a moment and gave her kin a reassuring lick. The two apprentices were united for a moment in sorrow. Then Skypaw shook herself as if to clear her head. Firepaw stood up. She noticed the others giving them disapproving looks, but they were kin, so she didn't care. She felt a new energy, a strong determination to prove her worth and to be the best warrior she could be. Heritage didn't always matter; it was how loyal you were.
She heard yowling. She turned to see ShadowClan and RiverClan charging down the slope. Longwhisker stepped in front to shield her and Skypaw. Firepaw lifted her chin and glared icily at them. Hawkstar and Marshstar leaped onto the Great Rock. Willowstar and Echostar scooted away from them, narrowing their eyes. The leaders of ShadowClan and RiverClan seemed puzzled at this.
Firepaw was confused at this, but then she realized they didn't know about their warriors' treachery. How could they not have seen the wounds on their pelts? She thought, baffled.
"I will speak first!" Echostar said icily, as if to challenge ShadowClan and RiverClan.
"WindClan reports with great sorrow the murder of Silverlake and Longwhisker. Marshstar, your warrior Longtail lead an attack, and killed Silverlake. Eagleclaw later died from his wounds. ShadowClan warriors were with them." Echostar said with a calm voice. Her bristling fur showed how furious she was. Skypaw thought she looked scary.
"Not long after that, Lichenfur lead an attack on my clan. She killed Appleleaf, Fernstep, and Cloudpaw. Emberstone also died from his wounds." Willowstar put in, "What do you have to say to defend yourself?"
Hawkstar looked shocked. Marshstar looked outraged.
"I had no idea what had happened! Lichenfur came to me saying she had done a night patrol, and they were attacked by some foxes." Hawkstar growled, "Your warriors deserved to be punished for what they did! Maybe not by death, but breaking the code is unacceptable!"
"Longtail died attacking WindClan, but we never found out what had really happened. Some cats thought it was a badger, others thought it was a fox, and some even thought it was rogues!" Marshstar yowled.
Oh no, here comes the drama again! Firepaw thought. The Clan leaders faced each other.
"If there is a war, we will be ready." Hawkstar hissed.
"So will RiverClan." Marshstar spat.
Everyone glared at each other for a moment longer, than Willowstar leaped down from the Great Rock.
"ThunderClan, we leave now!" She yowled.
Firepaw whispered bye to her WindClan family, then raced off to find Snowdrift. She caught up to her mentor. RiverClan hissed at them as they went. Jayfrost shielded her from any blows, as did Snowdrift. Firepaw felt scared. These were bad times to grow up in.
After they exited the gathering, Jayfrost stepped away a bit. Soon they were at the clearing. No one could believe that StarClan had not sent clouds to cover the moon. Willowstar went into her den muttering angrily. Aspenclaw glanced after her.
"Willowstar is tired, and has had a lot to deal with this past moon. However, we can't let our guard slip down. Ravenwing, Timberbreeze, you guard the entrance. Icethunder, Darkfoot, you patrol the boundary. No clan will catch us all sleeping like dormice." Aspenclaw ordered.
The four cats took their places. Icethunder and Darkfoot paced the camp boundary, Ravenwing and Timberbreeze guarded the entrance with their eyes wide and pricked ears. Firepaw wondered if they would be attacked tonight.
Shrugging, she padded back to her den and curled up beside Ashpaw and Splashpaw (oh my gosh, that rhymes!). She felt Splashpaw stroke her back with her tail, purring to comfort her, yet she had never felt more alone.
Simon says review. I can't think of what to write next. This chapter is a lot like chapter 8. Oh well, I can't think of anything!