LoneWolfgirl101: I'm happy you like it!

Iluvowls6: Cool, haha. xD

I'm officially on break now, thank Starclan. More time to write heh ;)

Chapter Eight – The Storm Itself

So there I was, a grumpy mess, in a clearing, & forced to train.

Training will help you release your anger that you've been holding in…

Gr… shut up conscience, you're not trustworthy enough to earn my following.

"Focus Hollypaw!" Ivyleaf's annoyed mew rattled me out of my dazed state. Too late, because next thing I knew, Ashpaw had hooked my hindleg from underneath me & flipped me over, instantly winding me.

"Good job, Ashpaw!" Cloudfur praised.

"Yes, good job, Ashpaw." I huffed as I rose to my paws. "I wasn't expecting that."

The older tom dipped his head politely & sat back.

"Hollypaw what's going on with you?" Ivyleaf meowed hesitantly, coming to stand in front of me.

"I'm a little out of it." I admitted.

"No kidding." Ivyleaf rolled her eyes. "Let's try that again. Ashpaw, get ready!"

Ashpaw crouched, his tail lashing from side to side. I knew what he was playing at, trying to distract me. When he launched, going for my left shoulder, I stepped to the side & used his own move against him, hooking his hindleg from under him & flipping him over.

"Yes Hollypaw! That's it!" Ivyleaf was jubilant.

"Nice work, Hollypaw." Ashpaw gave me a playful shove. "We make a good team."

"We do." I agreed, feeling a lot better than I had been. Thanks conscience, I guess you're not as stupid as I thought.

Oi, if I could take a mortal form, I'd box your ears!

I glanced over to where Pinepaw & his brother Eaglepaw were training together. Pinepaw was glaring daggers at Ashpaw, with a look of… jealousy? I couldn't be sure.

Whatever Pinepaw. I rolled my eyes & strolled over to Ivyleaf.

"Now what?"

"Do you feel practiced enough?" Her eyes were teasing.

"Do I ever!" I remarked, flopping over, pretending to faint.

"I think that you've done enough for now." She replied.

"Thank Starclan!"

Hawkclaw padded over.

"You're turning out to be a fine warrior, Hollypaw." He praised.

I couldn't be any happier. My own father, the deputy of Stormclan, actually praised me! That was kinda rare for him to do.

"Thanks!"

"I think that we've done enough training for one day." Mousefoot meowed from where he stood. Ever since the Pinepaw vs. Heatherpaw, now Heatherpelt, Mousefoot was sulky & distant, kind of like Pinepaw. He & Heatherpelt were avoiding each other, rarely seen within a fox-length of each other.

"Good thinking." Hawkclaw meowed. "Let's head back to camp. Featherpaw, Petalpaw, & Ashpaw, remember that your final assessments are after sun-high."

"Good luck!" I mewed to Ashpaw, who gave me a short nod. I could tell he was nervous.

…

Since I had the time, I decided to take a short nap, under the shade of a fern, growing nearby the apprentice den. I was instantly plunged into a traumatizing nightmare.

It was dark out, rain poured down like there was no tomorrow. As it splattered the ground, it pooled out in a dark crimson color. The blood-colored rain stained my paws, & I found myself running. No matter how hard I tried to stop, I couldn't.

I soon realized I was following a dark shape, the outline of a cat. It was too dark to see what it was, & though I tried to call after it, my meow wouldn't cooperate.

The mysterious cat stopped & suddenly I did too. Out of the darkness came another mysterious cat, bigger than the two of us combined.

"You came." It spoke, it's voice deep & sinister, sending chills down my spine.

"This isn't right." The first cat's voice was familiar, but it sounded slightly distorted. "I can't do what you ask of me."

"That's a shame." The larger cat was apathetic.

"I'll stop you & your madness!" The first cat vowed.

"I'd like to see you try." The large cat stepped forwards, his voice a menacing growl. "You can run, but you can't hide. You're just another pawn in my plan."

"Why do you want to do this?"

"Revenge." He replied, & I heard the fft as he unsheathed his claws. He held up a paw. The dark outline of his claws nearly made me faint. They were huge claws, abnormal, even for a cat like him to have. I searched desperately for moonlight, in hopes of identifying this terrifying cat. But there was no moonlight.

"Soon, very soon, I will have control over you." He spoke. "And when I gain control, nothing will stop me. I am not the cause of the storm, I am the storm!"

He suddenly cackled with glee, sending waves of terror through me. I couldn't breathe. I wanted to sink in the ground & disappear.

"Oh!" He was facing me now. "Looks like we have a guest."

I tried to move but I couldn't. The first cat lunged towards the large cat, but without turning his head, he lashed out at the cat's throat. The cat fell, & an arc of blood spattered my fur. He managed a strangled cry.

"Hollypaw!"

"Hollypaw!?"

"HOLLYPAW?!"

"Hollypaw!" Nettlepaw was shaking me, his eyes wide with concern. I stood up, shaking from head to tail.

"You were going mad!" He hissed. I looked around. Everyone in the camp had their eyes on me, staring at me in shock.

"I –" My eyes rolled back, I fell to the ground, & the world faded.