Wow, I really am bored. Sorry about this, I just felt like updating a lot because I'm not sure when I will be getting back on...Oh, and thanks Dreamsliver and flareon200 for reviewing, you guys are the best^^

Chapter 9

"We should check to make sure those dogs have gone," Cinderheart's meow came from the Highledge, where Hollystar was sitting. Runningmoon looked up, suddenly feeling eager to get revenge on those dogs.

It was the day after he sat vigil for both the Clan and Moonpaw, and though he felt exhausted, he knew that the Clan would need his help. He knew more about those dogs then they did, and that would make the fighting easier.

"Lets wait for a while," Hollystar replied with a flick of her tail. "The last thing we need is for a fight to break out. I know you want to deal with the problem but it's best we evaluate the situation first. Send out scouts to find out if the dogs are around, but tell them to keep themselves hidden."

Cinderheart nodded and skidded down the rocky slope. Hollystar nodded to Runningmoon and jumped off to head towards the apprentices' den. He still found it strange that she made him a warrior so young and quickly.

Though most cats would have been excited at the thought of finally becoming a warrior, he felt that he should have earned it more. And yet, Runningmoon kept the thought to himself. He wanted to be a warrior so that he could lead the patrols and take care of those dogs.

He blinked as Cinderheart approached him. Her gray tabby fur reminded him so much of Moonpaw that it made his heart wrench once more. All night he had been thinking of his sister, wondering if she was up in the stars, watching over him and his family. Cinderheart also had tufts of white fur that surrounded her ears, making them look like fluffy white clouds. Every time she had flicked them when he was a kit, he would try and attack them.

"Runningmoon, you get some sleep," Cinderheart mewed. "You've earned it." Her blue eyes were dark with sorrow, and Runningmoon realized that she was still greiving for her apprentice as well.

With a sigh the swift tabby tom padded towards the warriors' den. He scanned the area, hoping he would find a good nest. When he spotted Silverpond, curled up close to Leaporblaze, he padded towards her. "There's a nest right next to me," Leapordblaze whispered.

Runningmoon nodded and curled up in it. It wasn't as warm as the apprentices' den, but it felt cozier. And he could finally sleep with his family once more, just like when he was a kit, alone and terrified.

He quickly fell asleep, and was soon dreaming. But this time he was dreaming about StarClan, not Hawkfrost.

The forest around him seemed to glow with starlight, and for a moment, Runningmoon wondered if he was dead too. But he could still hear the snoring of the warriors' den, and flicked his tail in confusion. Why would he be taken here?

Moonpaw, he answered himself.

Runningmoon looked up at the sky. From down on the ground, it looked like the stars were dancing. The moon was nothing more then a claw mark in the sky, glowing faintly compared to the stars. To him they seemed to glow brighter then even the sun.

Every blade of grass swayed in the soft breeze that rushed through the forest, and the scent of prey was thick in the air. Runningmoon fought the urge to stop and hunt; this was StarClan's territory, not his.

"Runningmoon," a voice whispered. The dark gray tom looked up in surprise. His eyes widened in almost pure delight when he saw the familiar face of Moonpaw. "I brought you here for a reason, and don't argue with me," she hissed as she approached.

"Is something wrong in ThunderClan?" he asked quietly. Moonpaw seemed to be her old self, bossy and leader-like.

Moonpaw nodded and blinked. "There is a prophecy about you," she mewed. "Wind will strike, and Shadow will burn. Rivers will flood, and only the moon will run." Her eyes were dark with worry as she finished reciting the words.

Runningmoon stared at her in confusion. What could it possibly mean?

"Mouse-brain!" Moonpaw hissed as if she had read his thoughts. "Something big is about to happen. Bigger then the battle with Snakeclaw."

He tilted his head, and suddenly felt a flash of fear surge through him. If Moonpaw was right, then that meant that the Clans were in terrible danger. And maybe he was the only one who could stop it. Before he could open his mouth to reply, Runningmoon felt a paw prod his side.

"Wake up, it's already past sunhigh." He groaned and opened his eyes to find that Peppermint was standing over him. "A warrior doesn't need to be told to wake up, they follow their duties." She shrugged and backed away, allowing Runningmoon to get up and stretch his stiff muscles.

He padded out of the den and saw that Cinderheart was oragnizing patrols. Thornclaw, Berrynose and Spiderleg were leaving to go hunting. Runningmoon trotted over and waved his tail to Thornclaw. The golden brown tabby stopped and waited. "May I join your patrol?" He asked.

Thornclaw nodded and then they continued to trek on. Runningmoon felt as though his paws were made of stone. The long night of holding vigil had not helped, and Runningmoon suddenly wished that he could have rested for a few more heartbeats. He sniffed the air, hoping that he wouldn't detect any taint of dog. But he stiffened when he smelled Moonpaw's blood. Rain hadn't fallen yet, so it would not be washed away for a while.

Suddenly he spotted a mouse sniffing among the dead leaves that had fallen from the acorn tree. Runningmoon dropped to a crouch and immediately took off. The mouse looked up in shock, but the squeal never came as he dug his claws into its neck.

Spiderleg looked over his shoulder and looked proud. "That was a great move," he meowed.

Runningmoon flicked his tail in thanks. He decided to bury his prey so he could bring it back. Hopefully the dogs would not be able to smell it. After that the patrol caught a bountiful pile. Thornclaw caught a thrush, while Spiderleg caught a vole and a shrew. Berrynose, who had been sniffing the air the whole time, had caught himself a sparrow. His eyes were huge as he carried his catch back to where Runningmoon had caught the mouse. He himself had caught another mouse, a small one, but at least it was a mouse.

He dug the other mouse up and then the patrol headed back to camp. Hollystar was just returning as well, with Firepaw close at her side. The young golden tom's eyes were glowing as though he had caught the juciest piece of prey in the forest, and Runningmoon wondered what was going on.

When they came in, Tanglepaw and Lilacpaw were both chattering. Runningmoon narrowed his eyes at Lilacpaw. He still had not forgiven her for the fact that she ignored his love for her. She could live a life as a loner for all he cared. Emberfoot and Eagleflight were busy sharing tongues, while the rest of the Clan seemed occupied in StarClan knew what.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highledge for a Clan meeting!" Hollystar had leaped onto the Highledge and was staring down at the Clan. Runningmoon joined his Clanmates; he sat between Sorreltail and Birchfall.

Whitewing had given birth to her kits during the night. She had two healthy kits, Dovekit, a fluffy pale gray she-cat, and Cloudkit, a white tom with gray patches. Runningmoon had been surprised that both of them were almost white, considering their father was a light brown tabby. But he thought that it must all depend on which cat had a stronger coat color.

"I, Hollystar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors so that they may look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend them to you as warriors in turn. Firepaw, Tanglepaw, Lilacpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code, and defend your Clan, even with your life?"

"I do," the three of them mewed it together.

Runningmoon purred in amusement as he noticed the excitement that rolled off of them in ways. He hadn't had the chance to feel happy about his ceremony, because he had been too busy moping about Moonpaw. He did his best to be happy about them.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Firepaw, from now on you will be known as Firespirit. StarClan honors you for your loyalty and bravery."

Hollystar jumped down to touch noses with him, and the young warrior turned to lick her shoulder in return. Tanglepaw became Tanglefern, and Lilacpaw became Lilacfoot. Runningmoon chanted their names with everyone else, but he kept Lilacfoot's name quiet. He suddenly wondered why Hollystar would name Lilacfoot after Emberfoot, and why the former WindClan warrior was gazing at them with the look of a father.