WOOHOO! It's here! :D A full Swifttail chapter, plus a small little paragraph of a peep to.... evilness! :)

I think this is a pretty cool chapter, you? Well, READ TO SEE! R&R!!! Thanks. ;D

Chapter 9

I wonder what Rainpath is doing right now, thought Swifttail curiously. She lay inside the warrior's den, with Starlingfeather asleep and pressing to her side. Squeezing her eyes shut, she concentrated on Starlingfeather. Let me enter Starlingfeather's memories… maybe memories of when I first came to the Clan? She focused on that one memory strongly, and thought continuously, Starlingfeather when I first entered the Clan. Starlingfeather… When she opened her eyes, her heart soared. She had succeeded! Now she was in the nursery, and she stared as Frogkit and Starlingkit wrestled each other noisily. This time she wasn't frightened as she had been when she first entered Murkheart's memories, so she didn't scream. As Starlingkit tumbled over, a rumbling purr rose from Swifttail's throat. The black, white, and gray kit complained, "No fair! You're bigger than me, Frogkit!" Scowling, Frogkit retorted, "That's because you won't grow!" Suddenly, the familiar scent of their mother surrounded them, along with a strange, strong milk-scent with a tinge of squirrel in it.

"Murkheart?" Starlingkit lifted his small head, glancing curiously at his mother, his bright green eyes gleaming. Gently, Murkheart placed a tiny ginger shape onto the ground and gave the black-and-white kit a fond lick on the head. Quietly, the black she-cat explained, "This is Swiftkit. She is joining this den with us."Swifttail decided to stop there. She closed her eyes and thought, Let me return now, to my own world. When she opened her eyes, she grinned at the sight of the warriors den, and gave Starlingfeather a swift lick on the head before she gently removed her pelt from under his head, and padded out of the den.

Looking at the sky confidently, she thought, I can do it. I know I can! Now let me try to do it far away… We might need that to do it to Moonstream. Shutting her eyes, she centered her thoughts on Rainpath, and her memories of the Starlight Cliff. I'll get to see that beautiful cliff again, through her memories! Swifttail thought smugly. When she opened her eyes, nothing changed. Fox-dung! Swifttail cursed silently, and glared at the ground, heaving a sigh. She attempted several more times, but it didn't work. There must be some way! I have to be more concentrated. Closing her eyes tightly, she dismissed all her other thoughts and focused deeply on the Starlight Cliff inside Rainpath's memories… Her amber gaze was released from her eyelids, and she was standing by a tall, starry cliff. This is amazing, she thought gleefully. Again she shut her eyes, and experimented several times. Sometimes she failed, but that was when she accidentally allowed some thoughts into her mind. When she was fully focused, she wouldn't ever fail. I'm ready now, Rainpath. Meet me by the border.

***

Darkness dappled her pelt as she stepped forward in the dead forest. A dark brown tabby tom snickered, and growled, "The Dark Night is near… my plan will succeed… there is no flaw in this plan…!" Flaw. He kept mentioning this word, but she was helpless. She couldn't stop him. He was going to take over and nothing— simply nothing, could stop him. "Come here," the large tom snarled forcefully. The silver tabby reluctantly stumbled toward him. Sneering, he hissed, "You won't be able to stop me. You're within my paws now. You're the most convenient tool one can use…" he smiled, frightening her. "You can't stop me, Moonstream. I am becoming you. Tigerstar will reborn inside you!"

***

Swifttail purred as she touched muzzles with her sister by the border. "I'm quite ready now," she informed her. "But let me try to get both of us into a memory, too. Let's twine our tails together to do this." She closed her eyes and focused. Rainpath had told her to pick Dewshine's memories of his warrior ceremony. As she concentrated, she heard a mouse scamper across the bushes nearby. Let me and Rainpath enter Dewshine's memories of his warrior ceremony… The sisters opened their eyes, and viewed the RiverClan camp as Mistystar stood on a tall, damp rock. Purring in amusement, Rainpath mewed, "This is amazing! That's the Wetrock Mistystar is standing on!" As the RiverClan leader spoke the traditional words, Swifttail laughed. "Amazing, huh? Let's return now, then." Let us return to our own world now! A light flashed, and when they opened their eyes, Swifttail spotted the mouse she had heard. It was on RiverClan territory, and Rainpath purred and leaped, hitting the mouse with her claws.

"That means good news," Rainpath announced. Swifttail let out a snort. "What? A mouse to feed your Clan?" Grinning, Rainpath replied, "That's the first piece. The second piece of good news is that time stops when we are gone!" Her eyes widened. That was truly good— no one would notice they were missing then, because no time would pass when they spend time inside Moonstream's memories. Giving Swifttail a lick on the cheek, Rainpath nuzzled her and said goodbye. The sisters padded back to their own Clans, and Swifttail couldn't help but feel delighted. She could handle her powers now. The sun glowed reddish-orange as she raced back to camp. Before returning, she caught a lizard and a frog, and quickly returned to camp. Dropping the prey she caught on the fresh-kill pile, she also picked out a frog for herself.

Thrushpaw settled beside her gleefully. "Snowbird says because my brothers and I are doing so well, she's going to ask Russetstar if we can become warriors!" Smiling, Swifttail commented, "That is very good news." She was truly happy for her friend, but the events she was facing these days were much bigger than becoming a warrior. Soon enough, Russetstar called a Clan meeting. Swamppaw, Thrushpaw, and Sparrowpaw were bouncing up and down. Spotting Sparrowpaw, who seemed a little tense, Swifttail padded to him and gave him a reassuring lick on the ear, remembering the fox and the death of his former mentor, Toadfoot. His new mentor, Kinkfur pressed against him kindly and whispered soft, encouraging words into his ears. Sparrowpaw nodded, and seemed to relax a bit.

"ShadowClan names apprentices to show that the Clan will survive and remain strong," Russetstar began. "There are three apprentices to be named today. Swamppaw, Thrushpaw, and Sparrowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code to defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?" All three apprentices chanted loudly and boldly, "I do!" Russetstar's eyes glittered. "Very well. Swamppaw, from this moment you will be known as Swampshadow. StarClan honors your courage and strength. Thrushpaw, from now on, the Clan will know you as Thrushwing. StarClan honors your certainty and energy. Sparrowpaw," Russetstar's mew sounded across the clearing. The tortoiseshell apprentice straightened himself up. "From now on, you will be known as Sparrowflight. StarClan honors your cleverness and bravery." The ShadowClan leader turned to her cats. "According to the tradition of the warrior code, these three new warriors will sit vigil until sunrise."

Swifttail's eyes sparkled, remembering her own ceremony not long ago. She was proud of the three newly-made warriors, and as the Clan chanted their name, she yowled along with them: "Swampshadow! Sparrowflight! Thrushwing!" But, unfortunately, she had much bigger things to face.

Yay! More coolness about powers! And new warriors! How'd you like the names? I kind of liked Swampshadow, although it's pretty weird. :)

Omigosh! Tigerstar is so ebil! What does he plan for Moonstream in the Dark Night?

Review! Review! Swampshadow plushie for the best reviewer!

~~Rainy