A/N: You GUYS! I'm updating again and it hasn't been a year! xD

Thank you so much to those that reviewed the last chapter so quickly. I really, really appreciate it! Your feedback is what keeps me going. Starting next chapter, I'm going to try to get back to doing individual thank-yous, because I feel like it's important to let you guys know that I see and appreciate your reviews.

Anyways, if there are no suggestions for Ferncloud's kits, I'll just leave them as they were in the original, but I am open to changing them up if anyone has a kit idea. On the topic of kit ideas, Whitewing may be moving to the nursery soon, and I will *definitely* appreciate some ideas for her kits. (Spiderleg is going to be the father). So, let me know if you'd like and I'll put your idea into play!

Thanks again for reading-see you all next chapter!

Chapter 9

Lilypaw shivered as she padded quickly after Thornclaw. Brightheart and Spiderleg trailed further behind, moving slowly through the brittle undergrowth. Lilypaw understood their caution; it had been an entire moon since they had pushed the border with ShadowClan back to where it belonged. Still, there wasn't any sign of ShadowClan. Blackstar hadn't even acknowledged to the change at the last Gathering, and now the senior warriors all had it in their heads that the ShadowClan leader was planning something.

Would ShadowClan really risk pulling something this close to the middle of leaf-bare? Another shiver rippled through Lilypaw's tabby pelt. Firestar seems to think so, or he wouldn't have doubled patrols along this border. The patrol paused to refresh a scent marker, and Lilypaw let her gaze wander across the border. The pine trees looked unnaturally tall and fragile without their many spiny leaves, but they still cast a thick, flickering shadows across the frozen ground.

"That should do it," Thornclaw finally announced.

"Good," Spiderleg exhaled heavily. "I've got to meet the sundown patrol to go down the WindClan border." Thornclaw dismissed him with a nod, and the long-legged black warrior slipped away from the rest of the patrol.

"I'll go straight back to camp," Thornclaw turned his attention to Lilypaw. "Try to hunt on the way back to camp, and don't forget that we're on the dawn patrol tomorrow morning."

"Yes, Thornclaw." Lilypaw dipped her head respectfully to her mentor.

"I'll hunt as well," Brightheart offered. "StarClan knows we need all the prey we can get."

As the rest of the patrol split up, Lilypaw cast one last glance across the ShadowClan border. Something seems… different today… The lithe apprentice shook the thought from her mind and put her back to the border as she slunk away. I'm imagining things. I have to be.

Try as she might, Lilypaw only managed to catch one scrawny blackbird on her way back to camp, and disappointed as she was in the catch, it was better than nothing, and she brought it straight to the elders.

Mousefur didn't stir as Lilypaw pushed her way into the elders' den, but Longtail turned his sightless gaze towards the apprentice.

"That smells great," he rumbled.

"It's not very big," Lilypaw mumbled, pushing the blackbird towards Longtail. She glanced somberly at the place where Goldenflower had once made her nest. They had lost the old queen in a freeze only days ago, and ThunderClan was still mourning her loss. Since then Puddlepaw and Tanglepaw had set to furiously reinforcing the elders' den until it was nearly as warm and cozy as the nursery.

"It's plenty big enough," Mousefur rasped as she sat stiffly in her nest beside Longtail. "Thank-you, Lilypaw."

Lilypaw blinked warmly at the older she-cat. "Would you like me to get something from Cinderpelt for your joints? It's supposed to freeze again tonight."

Mousefur snorted, but Longtail nodded. "Please do," he insisted. "If not, we're all going to have to listen to her complain tomorrow."

"I'll be right back," Lilypaw ducked out of the den. She was relieved to see Emberpaw already on her way towards her. "Emberpaw!" She met her sister halfway. "I was just on my way to ask Cinderpelt if she could give Mousefur something for her joints. She seems really achy, and Sandstorm thinks it's going to freeze again tonight."

Emberpaw nodded. "That's what I was just on my way to check," she sighed. "You've saved me a trip Lilypaw, thank-you." The medicine cat apprentice touched her nose briefly to Lilypaw's before turning back towards the medicine den. Content, Lilypaw padded towards the fresh-kill pile. Tanglepaw was already there. The long-legged apprentice seemed relieved to see her.

"Hey, Lilypaw," he waved her closer with his tail. "Want to share something?"

Lilypaw swallowed her retort when she saw how small the fresh-kill pile was. "S-sure," she sighed.

Tanglepaw rolled his eyes. "Oh please, it's not going to kill you." He picked up a vole and led the way back to the apprentices' den. Lilypaw was surprised by how much taller than her Tanglepaw had grown. His shoulders were thinner than Puddlepaw's, but she could see the muscle rippling beneath his thin ginger pelt. They ate in silence for a moment.

"You've grown," Lilypaw finally blurted. She let her eyes skim the camp.

"So have you, believe it or not," Tanglepaw's meow was light-hearted. "Eaglepaw and Emberpaw, too. You're not the kits Puddlepaw and I used to tease in the nursery."

Lilypaw scoffed quietly. "Don't drag your brother into it, he was nice to us. You were the one that always had to give us a hard time."

And amused purr rose in the older apprentice's throat. "Good point." Silence fell between them again, this time warm and companionable. Lilypaw could see Puddlepaw, deep in conversation with his mentor near the Highledge. It seems like he's grown the most…

"Looks like ThunderClan will have plenty of kits come new-leaf," Tanglepaw flicked his ears, and Lilypaw followed the motion to where Whitewing and Spiderleg were sharing tongues outside the warriors' den.

"It took you this long to figure that out?" Lilypaw fixed her den-mate with an incredulous stare. "They've been chasing each other in circles since Whitewing was made a warrior."

"Well I'm sorry I've been too focused on training to be up to date on all of ThunderClan's inner-gossip!"

"I knew it was too good to be true." Lilypaw started at the sound of Puddlepaw's amused purr. She blinked up at the older apprentice as he joined them. "I saw you sharing fresh-kill from beneath the high-ledge, and I thought I was going crazy."

"It's not like I chose to share with Tanglepaw," Lilypaw huffed. "But neither of us wanted to take a whole piece with prey being so scarce…"

Puddlepaw's already dark blue eyes darkened more in understanding. "Eaglepaw and I shared at sunhigh for the same reason."

Lilypaw stretched and stood. "Well," she sighed. "I've got to be on the dawn patrol tomorrow. I'm going to get some rest. Good night, you two."

She heard them echoing their own "good nights" as she slipped into the apprentices' den. She curled tightly into her nest, tucking her tail over her nose and falling into an uneasy sleep.

A furious screech ripped Lilypaw from her restless dreams. The tabby apprentice sat bolt upright in her nest. "Eaglepaw, did you hear that?"

"Yes," Eaglepaw hissed. His pelt brushed hers as he thrust out of the apprentices' den.

"To me, ThunderClan!"

That was Brambleclaw! Lilypaw hurried after her brother, pushing her way out into the camp only to freeze in horror at the sight that greeted her. ShadowClan had invaded their camp. As she watched, Cloudtail came tearing out of the warriors' den, Birchfall on hot on his tail. Firestar was racing down from the Highledge spitting furiously, and Dustpelt was racing to intercept an enemy warrior trying to break into the nursery.

"What are you doing?" Tanglepaw spat, shoving her to the side with his muzzle. "Fight, Lilypaw!"

Fight. With a ferocious yowl, Lilypaw followed her den-mate into the thick of the fighting. Her initial shock had fallen away into pure, unfiltered rage. She found herself fighting alongside Whitewing against two ShadowClan warriors. Lilypaw could see their ribs beneath their matted pelts, but their blows felt stronger than they ever had.

"I can handle this," Whitewing rasped. Her words were followed by a distressed yowl from the other side of the camp. "That sounded like…"

"I'll go," Lilypaw gave her opponent one last claw mark so remember her by before she turned tail and pushed her way through the fighting cats. Hang on, Emberpaw! As she tore away from another warrior, Lilypaw caught sight of her sister standing beside Cinderpelt as the medicine cat tried vainly to hold off and advancing warrior.

"Leave them alone!" Lilypaw yowled, barreling into the warrior's side with all of her weight.

"Thank-you," Cinderpelt exhaled. "I'm going to tend to the wounded—protect the medicine den!"

Lilypaw only had time to nod before the warrior rounded her, cuffing her heavily over the ear. She recovered quickly and dodged his next blow by rolling to the side, beneath his outstretched claws. She jumped up quickly and swiped her claws across his bony shoulder. Grim satisfaction filled her as his blood welled up between her claws. He hissed in pain and retaliated, but Lilypaw was already slithering between his now wide-open front paws. She twisted as she ducked under her enemy, raking her front claws across the tender flesh where his hind legs met his underbelly. She didn't stop moving, rolling completely over before he could recover enough to hurt her own back legs as she slipped out from under him. She twisted around as fast as lighting and bit down hard on his hind leg, clawing at his haunches until a tore away screeching for the thorn tunnel.

Lilypaw didn't have time to catch her breath as a seemingly fresh ShadowClan warrior replaced the first. I'm the best fighter out of all of the apprentices, she reminded herself fervently, feeling her strength ebbing. I have to protect Emberpaw! As she drove away the second warrior, she shook the blood from her eyes and scanned the clearing. She could see Brackenfur fighting beside Dustpelt outside of the nursery, and caught flickers and glimpses of her Clan-mates' familiar pelts in the mass of fighting in the middle of the camp. ThunderClan was getting pressed back against the great stone wall that served to protect their camp, with nowhere to go but into ShadowClan's outstretched claws. Are they trying to drive us out?

Cloudtail suddenly appeared beside her, his long white fur matted and stained red. "Lilypaw," he rasped. "I'll watch the medicine den. You have to f-find Tanglepaw—he's the fastest. Find him and tell him to go to WindClan and ask for help!"

"Can we trust Onestar to help us?" Lilypaw didn't realize how scared of the answer she was until the question had already left her lips.

Cloudtail bowed his head for a moment. "We don't have any other choice."

Lilypaw nodded, leaving the strong white warrior at Emberpaw's side and searching out Tanglepaw's familiar ginger coat. Thick clouds blotted out most of the moonlight, but it didn't take her long to see the long-limbed apprentice holding the scruff of a massive warrior while Crowfeather raked his claws across their enemy's exposed belly.

"Tanglepaw!" Lilypaw shoved her den-mate to the side as a ShadowClan apprentice tried to attack him, trusting her father to handle it while she spoke with Tanglepaw. "Cloudtail told me to find you," she gasped. "You have to go to WindClan and ask them for help!"

"Onestar will not come," Lilypaw spun to face her father as he threw another apprentice to the ground. "Go straight to RiverClan."

"Crowfeather just doesn't want to see his former Clan-mates hurt!" Sandstorm spat. "Go to WindClan as Firestar ordered!"

Tanglepaw hesitated, looking back and forth between the two warriors.

"Just go!" Lilypaw pushed him towards the thorn tunnel with her muzzle. "You've always been the fastest, Tanglepaw, you can do it."

She watched his tail-tip disappear before spinning to launch herself at the warrior that attempted to chase after him. It doesn't matter who it is, she thought desperately, if someone doesn't help us soon we'll have no choice but run from our own territory!

Tanglepaw's shoulder burned where a ShadowClan warrior had bitten him, and blood dribbled constantly into his left eyes from a deep cut across the top of his head, but he wouldn't let himself slow. He stretched his legs far as he could with every stride, sinking his claws into the ground and dragging his aching body forward as if death was on his tail. For all I know it might be!

He splashed through the stream as if it didn't exist, stumbling up the bank and taking off again. The cold water distracted him from his wounds and helped him push on even faster. Crowfeather's words echoed in his head. "Onestar will not come." The dark ginger apprentice forced himself to turn towards WindClan's camp. My orders are to go to WindClan. Surely Onestar won't turn away from ThunderClan…?

"Intruder!" The cat on guard jumped to their paws, but Tanglepaw flew past them and tore into the camp.

"Onestar!" He wailed, not bother to fight as the guard he had run past tackled him to the ground. "ThunderClan needs help!"

"What is the meaning of this?" Tanglepaw looked up to see WindClan's leader padding slowly towards him.

"ShadowClan is attacking our camp," Tanglepaw rasped. "Firestar sent me to ask for help—they're trying to drive us out!"

Onestar closed his eyes for a long moment, before finally shaking his head. "I am sorry. WindClan has suffered this leaf-bare. We cannot afford to get mixed up in a fight between ThunderClan and ShadowClan. Leave now, and go back to your Clan. They'll need every warrior."

Tanglepaw struggled to his paws as the WindClan warrior released him. "But…"

Onestar lashed his tail. "Leave!"

"Fine," Tanglepaw spun and ran to the entrance, calling over his shoulder, "ThunderClan will never forgive you for this!"

The warrior apprentice didn't even think about it as he turned away from his territory and continued alongside the lake. It's the only way, he told himself over and over in his head. As long as it's help, does it matter where it's from? He could barely see straight as he approached RiverClan's camp, and he staggered through the entrance on shaking legs.

"L-Leopardstar," he coughed and shuddered.

"It's a ThunderClan cat!" An outraged his reached his ears, followed by many more.

"ThunderClan is in trouble," Tanglepaw choked out. "We need help…"

Leopardstar pricked her ears as she approached. "Trouble?" She flicked her tail. "Ripplepaw, fetch Mothwing."

Tanglepaw nodded. He rubbed his paw over his face in an attempt to rub the blood away from his eyes. "ShadowClan has invaded our c-camp… Firestar ordered me to ask Onestar for help, but he turned me away s-so I…" Tanglepaw's chest was heaving as he struggled to continue. He flinched when Leopardstar brushed her tail along his flank.

"That's enough," she rumbled. Then she lifted her head. "ShadowClan has finally made their move for more territory," she announced. "And if they manage to drive out ThunderClan, there will be nothing to stop them from coming here next—stronger, from having more land!" Approving yowls followed her statement.

"We have to go help!" A warrior called out.

"If ShadowClan gets away with this they'll think they can control the entire forest!"

Leopardstar started organizing patrols, and Tanglepaw sank to the ground. As her warriors shifted into groups, the dappled she-cat bent to touch her muzzle to Tanglepaw's head. "You acted with the strength and quick thinking of a warrior," she murmured. "Rest now, and let Mothwing tend to your wounds. We will go help your Clan-mates."

Tanglepaw felt relief crash over him. Thank StarClan… He let his eyes slip shut as RiverClan's medicine cat began cleaning his wounds. Hold on, Puddlepaw, help is coming…

Lilypaw's ears rang as her opponent slammed his full weight down on her. His Clanmate raked her claws across the apprentice's flank as she struggled.

"Give up and die already!" The ShadowClan she-cat hissed.

Never…! Lilypaw twisted away from her claws, yowling in pain as the bigger ShadowClan warrior dug his teeth into her scuff. He shook his head, jerking Lilypaw roughly from side to side. She could only swipe blindly at the she-cat in front of her as she was tossed around like fresh-kill in the big tom's jaws. Blood blotted her vision and pain sapped the last of strength as the two warriors tore mercilessly into her.

"Lilypaw!"

Is that… She hit the ground heavily as the ShadowClan warrior hold her scruff was ripped away. A ferocious battle cry filled the air, and the scent of fish reached Lilypaw's nose.

"Don't worry, Lilypaw…" The tabby apprentice felt warmth ghosting across her ear. "You're going to be okay…"

"S-Soot…fur…?" She blinked, trying to make out the gray-black shape above her, but she only saw a flash of sunset orange before darkness swallowed her.