*~Heres the new update, so what do you guys think of Iris and Azure? Please review, I would love to update soon! My Birthday is on Tuesday YAY!~*

Thanks!

~Leo~


CHAPTER 8

Pelts moved ahead, as the four clans poured out of WindClan camp. Burningpaw felt a surge of energy, this was it! The beginning of the journey to their new home. There was only one last thing he had to do, go get Midnight and the fox cubs from behind the leaders den. He was so excited to show Rust and Ginger the different parts of the forest! Dashing over to the temporary den, he excitedly pushed past the brambles that guarded the nest.

But before he could enter, Midnight pushed him out.

"Hey what are you doing?" he meowed confused, "I wan't to see the cubs!".

The badger pushed him out, until they were a few tail-lengths away.

"Accident happen young one, no go in there" she spoke sadly, shaking her head.

"What kind of accident?" he asked, what could have happened? Burningpaw didn't know, but something if something happened to the cubs, he had to get in there! Pushing past the badger, he pushed the brambles away once more, and entered the den. Strong scents filled his nose, the strongest one being blood.

No! His heart stopped, as a puddle of blood lay in front of him, Rust and Ginger were dead.

How could this have happened? Who would have killed two innocent fox cubs? After all he did to try and save them, it only took a moment for them to be taken away.

"Sorry I am" Midnight's voice came from behind, "Cubs go swiftly though, with Anscestors they are."

Burningpaw was lost for words, it felt like a rock was jammed to the bottom of his throat.

"Who...Who did this?" he managed to rasp, his eyes glued on the small blood covered bodies only a tail-length away.

The badger edged forward, "Go to eat only while ago, Midnight come back, find cubs dead" her eyes were saddened as she closed the small cubs eye lids.

"What's going on? Burningpaw we have to go!" the voice of his brother came from outside. The ThunderClan deputy entered, and gasped as he saw the site. "What happened?" Lionblaze demanded, looking at the badger and the apprentice.

"Someone murdered them that's what!" he hissed, "And whoever did this, I'll get revenge for them!".

And that he would. Someone wasn't just going to kill innocent cubs, it didn't matter what their species was, it was murder.

"I'm sorry Burningpaw. Believe me I am" the golden tom stepped forward, "But we have to go, and with you leg still hurting we need a head start".

Lionblaze exited, along with Midnight, who gave him a pat with her tail.

Whoever did this, I'll find them and get revenge.

Another rumble of Thunder came from above, as the group of forest cats made their way past the lake. There was no rain, but the sky was overcast, preparing to unleash its fury yet again. Burningpaw stood on a hill, they were past twoleg place, and were pausing to let the queens and elders rest. Pretty soon, this would be the farthest he would have gone from home, he was leaving his life behind. But this is a good thing, he thought. If the clans had staid here, then surely we would have all died from starvation.

"Are you okay?" a sweet sounding voice echoed from behind him.

Silverpaw stood, her bright gray pelt beaming in the little light that the clouds shedded from above. The tiny scarlet patches that covered her pelt were shining as well, the young apprentice looked stunning.

"I'm fine" he answered, avoiding her silver gaze.

The she-cat stepped forward, and laid her tail gently on his ginger shoulder.

"I'm sorry about the fox cubs. Really I am, even though they were foxes, they didn't deserve that" she mewed sadly.

He knew Silverpaw was just trying to help him, but Burningpaw didn't feel life talking right now. "I'm fine honestly, I'd just like to be alone right now, if thats okay with you" he meowed, trying not to sound harsh.

Silverpaw nodded, and give him a wave with her tail, before turning to talk with Robinpaw. Burningpaw watched her leave, sorrow filled his heart, he would have liked to speak with her at another time.

The queens were resting on a patch of grass, the kits playing happily around them. Sandstorm and Ferncloud, who were still both expecting kits, were the most tired out. Especially Sandstorm looked tired, she was one of the oldest cats in the clan, It must be hard to almost be an elder, but have to care for your unborn kits. It still seemed a bit weird to him, that Sandstorm was carrying his unborn aunts or uncles.

Another bolt of lightning shot across the ashen sky, as Firestar called for the clans to continue on. The queens and various other warriors picked up their kits, and followed their clans.

Burningpaw gave one last look to his home, before turning and following the other cats, into the unknown.

Raindrops pattered the soft earth, making small indents in the brown mud. The grass was slippery and wet with rain, making it hard to walk on. The clans traveled slowly through the storm, leaving the horse-place far behind.

Burningpaw walked next to his sister, who had a huge smile on her face.

"What are you so happy about?" he meowed, giving her an annoyed look.

Sunpaw shivered from the cold, "Aren't you excited!? We're going into unknown territory! Perhaps no cats have even been there before!" her golden face was smiling from curiosity.

If only you knew, he sighed, wishing that he could at least tell Sunpaw of what StarClan had showed him. They were traveling to the Tribe Of Burning Flames territory, well their old territory.

"Well we aren't just traveling through meadows and grassland" he hissed, "This is going to be a hard journey, and we have to keep the elders and kits healthy".

Sunpaw groaned, "Why do you always have to ruin my fun? Come on Burningpaw its an adventure!" she batted her brother's ears.

He ducked away, still not looking happy. Burningpaw didn't care what Sunpaw said, this was going to be difficult, only he and Midnight knew the path to their new home.

"You two want some fresh-kill?" Birchfall padded up beside the two apprentices, carrying a mouse in his jaws.

"Sure!" Sunpaw leaped forward, grabbing the mouse and running to the front of the group.

"She acts like there's been no fresh-kill in a moon" Birchfall chuckled, as his mate Whitewing brushed up against his side.

Her green eyes looked to Burningpaw with a nod, "Do either of you know where Thistlepaw is? I couldn't find him" Whitewing meowed, trying to peer into the group of traveling cats.

Burningpaw flicked his tail to the front, where Firestar and his deputy padded.

"I think Lionblaze is watching him" he meowed to the she-cat, "Do you want me to go get him?".

The two parents had been quite protective of their lone kit, ever since Gingerpaw and Larchpaw had died. A lot of death had come to Birchfall's family lately. First his brother Spiderleg, then his two kits, and then his father Dustpelt!

"No I'm just going to walk with him, but thanks" Whitewing mewed, brushing past the two, to go find her son.

The golden-brown tabby traveled next to the apprentice, setting his eyes on the unknown ahead.

"I wonder where we're going" Birchfall meowed, "It looks like we're heading in the direction we came from. This is the path we took from the old forest".

Burningpaw perked his ears, why would Midnight be leading them to the place that they fled from last time? It didn't make sense.

"I'll talk to you later" he meowed to the older warrior, giving him a nod of goodbye.

Birchfall grunted, while he wove through the different cats of the four traveling clans. Images popped into his head, of what Rock had showed him. The beautiful sapphire waterfall that poured into a pool, the sun drenched cliffs that stood tall, and finally the golden sand that blew through the dessert. Somewhere on our journey, we'll encounter those places, I just hope I know how to find them.

The badger was lumbering beside his sister Hollyleaf, who was chatting with the gray and white tom, Mousewhisker. The two cats had become quite close after the battle with DawnClan, did Hollyleaf actually like someone?

"Midnight?" he mewed, approaching the black and white animal. She turned her beady eyes, and smiled when she identified who it was.

"Hello young apprentice" she grunted, "Holding up you are?" she asked, sympathy in her small black eyes.

Midnight was speaking of Rust and Ginger, why couldn't they just leave it alone?

"I'm fine Midnight" he spoke quickly, "But I wanted to speak with you about something" Burningpaw gave a look to Hollyleaf, who was still close by.

The badger seemed to understand, and held back, letting the cats pass her by. Once they were by themselves, she turned to the apprentice and nodded for him to continue.

"I was just wondering where we're going, Birchfall said this was the way back to the old forest. Is that where we're going?".

He waited a moment, as the badger thought.

She finally rose her head to speak, "Cliffs you see?" she asked, nodding.

He twitched his whiskers, "Yeah, and they reflected golden sunlight".

"Cliffs are home for Midnight" she spoke, smiling.

"Home? You mean you live near the cliffs?" so this all made sense! Rock showed him the cliffs, because Midnight would know where to go!

"Yes, Ocean I live by. Many cliffs near, home beneath large cliff" she spoke, reminicing of her home.

"What's an Ocean?" Burningpaw meowed, as the two walked behind a ShadowClan apprentice.

"Ocean big water, full of fish. Salty it taste, and danger inside" she shuttered, as if the danger she was talking about, was right in front of her.

What kind of danger could scare a badger? Burningpaw wondered, Midnight seemed as if she could take care of herself.

"No talk now" Midnight growled, "Concentrate we must, Ocean long way from forest. Mountains we must cross to find Sun-Drown place. Tribe of Rushing Water live high up, help us they will".

The Mountains! That's what Rock told me about, Squirrelflight and Brambleclaw crossed them to find the lake home.

"But we can't live near the ocean can we? We have to cross through the dessert to get to the Tribe of Burning Flames territory, right?.

It would be a long journey, much longer than the journey to the lake home. First they would have to cross through the mountains, then travel to the sun-drown place. And finally cross through a dessert, that was StarClan only knows how long!

"Dessert not far from home. But cats no know how to get there. Across from forest, path lay to get to Dessert, but only Midnight know where is".

The badger nodded with certainty, Burningpaw felt safe knowing that Midnight would be guiding them.

"But future far from now" she growled, "Focus on mountains we must, far away they are".

The badger gave a look to Burningpaw, before padding ahead to speak with Willowshine.

This all was so confusing. If Midnight already knew everything he did? What part did Burningpaw play in all this? A rustle in a bush behind him, made Burningpaw jump in fright.

"Whose there?" the sound had surprised him so much, Burningpaw practically leapt two fox-lengths away. A moment passed, until he built up enough courage to step forward and investigate the noise. It came from a bramble bush that sat beside a willow tree.

Rain batted at his pelt, as Burningpaw carefully outstretched a paw, and pulled the bramble aside. In front, a gray and white she-cat stood, her fur sticking out at all ends in fury.

"Who are you?" he hissed back, his fur bristling. The she-cat looked from side to side, as if expecting more cats to attack her.

"Please don't hurt me" she begged, cowering back against the willow tree.

"Don't worry" he meowed, "I won't hurt you".

Burningpaw advanced, and stepped gingerly towards her. Another rustle came from this time behind Burningpaw, and three cats stood looking at him.

Lionblaze, Cloudtail and surprisingly Daisy stood their, looking at the cat.

"Floss!" Daisy exclaimed, running past the apprentice, and nuzzling the she-cat.

"Floss?" Cloudtail meowed, "Is this the cat you lived in the barn with? The one whose kits were taken away by the twolegs".

Daisy nodded, "I can't believe you're here! Why did you leave the barn?" the cream furred she-cat was beaming from happiness.

Floss looked more comfortable now that her friend was here, and shuffled her paws.

"Daisy, its Smoky" she mewed quietly, "Awhile back he started getting sick, and stopped eating. I tried to do as much as I could, but one day the Nofurs came and poked him with a stick. I'm sorry, he's dead".

The queen gasped from shock, as she stared at her friend in disbelief.

Burningpaw was confused, who was Smoky? He had known that Daisy and her kits came from the horseplace, but never heard of either Floss or Smoky.

"But why did you leave?" Daisy croaked, "Did the Nofurs try and hurt you too?" she asked, looking at Floss in disbelief.

"No" the gray and white cat answered, "They tried to take my kits from me, so I attacked them and ran".

"Kits?" Cloudtail repeated, "You have kits?".

She nodded, and revealed a flower patch that lay behind her. Pulling the flowers behind, two kits lay their, almost identical.

"This Is Iris and Azure" she meowed happily, motioning for the two dark gray kits to come forward.

Burningpaw gasped, the kits were a color he had never seen before. They were a dark gray, but their fur had a bluish tint along with a silver muzzle on each of them.

"What's an Azure?" Cloudtail meowed, looking at the queen curiously.

"It's a color you mouse-brain, like blue" Daisy chuckled batting his ears. But the queen soon stopped and bent down to the kits, and licked both of their heads.

"Do you think we could stay with you?" she asked to Lionblaze, probably realizing he was the one in charge."I have no where else to go, and my kits won't survive if I bring them back! I saw you guys leaving, I want to go!".

Lionblaze held the loners gaze, "It's fine with me, but we'll have to ask Firestar. You may come with us for now".

Daisy beamed along with Floss, as they turned to leave with the others.

But the one kit, Iris, turned to Burningpaw. Her beautiful amethyst eyes gazed mysteriously into his amber ones, looking like bright stones.

The other kit Azure had unusually blue eyes also, they looked like crystals. But an unusual feeling engulfed him, as the kit didn't break her stare.

A chill ran across his pelt, there was something about these kits, and Burningpaw didn't like it.