Ok, I am seriously sorry for the long wait. I have been so busy. Which is wierd, since I'm off from school for two weeks. So here are my replies to your reviews:

EyeOfTheTiger - Thank you! Love the name, too.

ThrushflightEdward'sStalker - Yeah, Snowyfeather's stupid. Sorry, we can't go Snowyfeather hunting, but I'll tell you when you can stick her with a spear.

Spottedfeather - I know, I'm sad too. But if Snowyfeather died, the story would be like, 'Sandypaw woke up. Sandypaw went to bed.' That's boring! Even if Snowyfeather is the meanest cat in the forest that we all want to kill.

SakuraCherriBlossom - Your wish is my command. -waves wand- There you have it! A new story chappie!

Darkriver101 - Yeah, I like Webclaw too. He's so... mediciney.

MidnightNinja611 - No, Snowyfeather is not the cat with red eyes. She's got ice cold eyes. Cold is the key word. Red is burning hot! But there is one thing in common. -leans in- EVILNESS!!!! -hides in a box-

Did I answer everyone? I think so... And I don't know if I mentioned this already, but instead of putting lines all the time, I'm going to be putting this:

...Sand...Fire...

You know, Sand is Sandypaw and Fire is FireClan. Good.

Okey dokee. Here is the story. One warning though: Duskpaw is not crazy.


Sandypaw padded by Duskpaw's side thorugh the forest. She leapt playfully on the silver she-cat, and they rolled around on the ground in a play fight. Wildfeather batted his paw at them. "Play later. Training now."

"Oh, you don't have to be so blunt, Wildfeather!" Duskpaw meowed. Wildfeather laughed. "Right, you two. Get off the ground and and keep walking forward."

"Say, where are we going?" Sandypaw asked curiously.

"The Dusty Plain, of course," Wildfeather retorted. "That's the place where we train isn't it?"

"Yeah!" Duskpaw meowed enthusiastically. "Let's go! Quickly now!" She ran ahead of them.

"Oh no you don't!" Sandypaw yowled, racing after her. Her paws beat hard against the ground as she caught up to her friend. Duskpaw slowed down and came to a stop, panting for breath. "Phew! That was tiring!"

"It's your fault you were running so fast!" Sandypaw cut in.

Duskpaw swiped at her playfully. "Don't get me in a bad mood, or I'll scratch your eyes out!"

"You remind me of old Halfear," Sandypaw purred. She glared at Duskpaw sternly in a shrewd imitation of Halfear. "Clean out the beddings and pull my ticks out, or I'll make you wish you had never been born, apprentice!"

Duskpaw chuckled along with Sandypaw. They did not notice that Wildfeather had caught up to them.

"Don't make fun of your elders," Wildfeather said sternly, making them jump. "We're at the Dusty Plain, in case you hadn't noticed."

Sandypaw and Duskpaw looked around. Wildfeather was right. They were at the training hollow. It wasn't exactly a plain, but it was a wide open space.

"Do we get to fight?" Duskpaw asked.

Wildfeather nodded. "All right, you two. I want you to be ready to fight when I say go. Ok?"

The apprentices nodded. Duskpaw bared her fangs at Sandypaw. Sandypaw flattened her ears and hissed.

"Go!" Wilfeather yowled. Duskpaw pounced on top of Sandypaw as quick as a rabbit. She swiped a paw across Sandypaw's face. Sandypaw flinched, knowing that if this had been a real battle, her face would have probably been torn in two. She rolled over onto her back and kicked hard at Duskpaw's belly. Duskpaw flew a few tail lengths away and landed on the ground. Picking herself up, Duskpaw spat out a mouthful of dust and ran back towards Sandypaw. Sandypaw jumped to the side just in time. As Duskpaw skidded to a halt, Sandypaw leaped on top of her in one swift movement. She placed a paw on Duskpaw's throat, looking triumphant. She had won.

Wildfeather signaled Sandypaw to let Duskpaw get to her feet. "Very good," Wildfeather told them. "Duskpaw, you need to practice a bit more, but you're quick. And Sandypaw, you know a lot about the fighting moves. Impressive. You could prove to be a deadly opponent in battle."

Sandypaw nodded at his praise. She didn't want to seem too proud. Duskpaw didn't look mad at how impressed Wildfeather was with Sandypaw, though. She rolled over on the ground and stared up at Sandypaw with delight. "See, Sandypaw? Look at the respect you have now!"

"What's all this about respect?" Wildfeather asked suspiciously.

Sandypaw flicked her tail over Duskpaw's mouth before she could blabber anything else out. "Nothing," she said quickly. "Nothing at all."

Wildfeather grunted and turned around. "All right. That's it for today. Go and do what you must do."

Duskpaw scrambled to her paws, her tail twitching. "Come on, Sandypaw!" she meowed excitedly. "I have to tell you something!" She ran in the direction of the camp. Sandypaw followed her, trying to catch up. "Hey, wait!"

It was at the bramble thicket that Duskpaw finally stopped running. Sandypaw stopped beside her and glanced at her. "What's got you so excited?"

"Well, first of all, Deeppaw and I caught an adder," Duskpaw meowed.

"An adder!" Sandypaw repeated in wonder. "Can you eat adders?"

Duskpaw wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, right. You want to try it and see?"

Sandypaw shook her head. "No, not really."

"Ok then. Here's what I really want to tell you." Duskpaw bent down and whispered something in Sandypaw's ear. Sandypaw's eyes widened. "Duskpaw! You can't possibly be doing that!"

"Well, I will do it, so there!" Duskpaw turned her nose up in the air.

"But Cloverwing and Fogpelt won't - " Sandypaw began.

Duskpaw bristled. "Cloverthing will deserve what she gets!" she hissed. "And as for Fogpelt, I don't consider him as my father anymore. So don't try to stop me, Sandypaw. I know you care, but I've made up my mind. Either Fogpelt betrays my mother, or I rot and die watching him do it."

Before Sandypaw could utter a word, Duskpaw left with her with her tail held high.

...Sand ... Fire...

Sandypaw and Bloodpaw talked about the upcoming Gathering at FourClaws. "I heard that a tree fell on top of Rockstar, so he lost a life," Bloodpaw meowed. Sandypaw looked alarmed. "So he has only one life left!?"

"I guess," Bloodpaw said, shrugging. He waved his tail at something. "Hi, Freckles!"

Sandypaw purred as she turned to Frecklecloud, who had narrowed her eyes at Bloodpaw. "My name isn't Freckles," she meowed good - naturedly. Her eyes lighted up with happiness as she looked at Sandypaw. "Guess what?"

"What?" Sandypaw asked.

"You have to guess!" Frecklecloud meowed impatiently, kneading her paws against the hard forest ground.

"Ooh, ooh, I know!" Bloodpaw shouted. "You went to join WaterClan!"

"No," Frecklecloud said calmly.

"Umm... you jumped off a tree and landed on a Twoleg's head?" Bloodpaw tried.

"No!" Frecklecloud hissed. She looked annoyed.

"Uh... you taught a dog how to fly and then made it fly straight into a tree so that it would fall and get dizzy and collapse and then you ate it and gave it to CloudClan so that they would collapse too and run away from here so that could never bother us again?" Bloodpaw guessed in one breath.

Frecklecloud blinked. "I have no idea what you just said, but no." She turned back to Sandypaw. "Actually..." Her eyes gleamed. "I'm expecting kits!"

Sandypaw gasped. "That's wonderful, Frecklecloud!" She looked behind her to see Brackenfang staring at them, his chest puffed out proudly. "Ae they Brackenfang's?" she whispered.

Frecklecloud nodded energetically. "I've already told Flamefur, Oakstar, Brackenfang, Furryfall, Shrubfoot, Clawfur, Fogpelt, and Frailpaw. I'm going to tell Clawfur now."

Sandypaw blinked. "I thought you said you already told Clawfur?"

Frecklecloud didn't seem to hear her as she trotted off to sit by Clawfur. Sandypaw stifled laughter as Clawfur yowled, "You already told me that!"

Bloodpaw nodded at the nursery. "That place will be packed before you can say 'mouse'!"

"Mouse," Sandypaw said. She looked at the den. "It's not full."

Bloodpaw shrugged. "Eh, guess not."

Sandypaw was vaulted to the ground as something knocked her down. Sandypaw stared at the silver face that was giggling down at her. "Hiya, Sandypaw!"

"Hello, Streamkit," Sandypaw purred. She shook the dust out of her fur and tried to look indignant. She squinted her eyes at Streamkit. "Don't hit a cat like that, or you go straight to the elders den to change their bedding!"

"You're just saying that," Streamkit meowed. "And I didn't hit you. I slammed into you... on accident," she added.

Streamkit sat down, her sapphire eyes glowing with anticapation. "Dad said I might become an apprentice soon."

Dad? Sandypaw thought. Oh. Of course. She means Flamefur.

"You're only five moons old," Bloodpaw pointed out, making Sandypaw jump. She had forgotten he was there.

"For now," Streamkit said, wrapping her fluffy white tail around her paws. She licked her chest, then looked up again. "But soon I won't be." At that moment, Pigeonkit and Crystalkit ran out to join their sister.

Pigeonkit puffed out his chest proudly. "I'm going to be the deputy!" he boasted.

"No you're not," Crystalkit argued. "Dad's the deputy."

"But when he becomes leader, I'll be deputy, and mother can be my assistant," Pigeonkit stated.

Streamkit dipped her head to her brother and grinned. "I bow before you, mighty one!"

Pigeonkit glared at her. "Is that an insult?" Withut waiting for an answer, he strutted importantly back to the nursery.

Crystalkit growled playfully. "You look like a bird, Pigeonkit!" She ran after him.

Streamkit looked at Sandypaw and shook her head. "Kits," she muttered. Sandypaw and Bloodpaw chuckled. Bloodpaw nodded at Streamkit. "See ya, guys. I'm going hunting." He left, leaving Sandypaw alone with Streamkit.

Streamkit looked up at Sandypaw and asked, "Do you hate me?"

"Why would I hate you?" Sandypaw mewed, startled. She and Streamkit had become good friends as soon as the she-kit had started to walk. Sandypaw looked closely at Streamkit. "In fact, why would you ask such a question at all?"

Streamkit shrugged. "I don't know. I was just asking."

A hiss sounded quite suddenly from behind Sandypaw. The ginger apprentice spun around to come face-to-face with Snowyfeather. The white she-cat spat. "Hello, Sandypaw. I see you're... enjoying yourself." Although she spoke to Sandypaw, her eyes were glaring with disgust at Streamkit.

Sandypaw glanced at Streamkit. She seemed frozen. Sandypaw turned back to Snowyfeather. "Yes, I am. I was just talking to Streamkit."

"I see," Snowyfeather snarled between gritted teeth. She swung her white head in Streamkit's direction. "Come Streamkit. We need to have... a talk." She stalked to the nursery. Streamkit padded forward hesitantly and sat beside her mother, staring up at her with wide eyes.

Snowyfeather growled loud enough for Sandypaw to hear. "What, may I ask, were you doing with that Half-Clan?"

Streamkit immediately stood up in defense for her friend. "She's not Half-Clan," she meowed. "Sandypaw was born in FireClan."

"Answer the question!" Snowyfeather snapped, unsheathing her claws. Streamkit stared at her mother's paw as her claws scored the bare earth. "She's my friend."

Snowyfeather's voice shook with rage. "Your friend? Your friend!? That Half-Clan - !"

"She's not a Half-Clan!" Streamkit yowled. She cowered down as Snowyfeather stalked forward menacingly. "If you become frends with a Half-Clan, you will betray the Clan. And if you betray the Clan, Oakstar will force you to leave."

Streamkit was shaking, but she stood up and stared defiantly at the white cat. "She's my friend, mother."

Snowyfeather snarled and brought her face close to Streamkit's. "You are no kit of mine!" She kicked Streamkit away, making the kit fly into the ground a few tail lengths away from her. Snowyfeather snorted at Streamkit's pitiful form, then, with a sweep of her tail, entered the nursery. Sandypaw shot towards Streamkit as fast as lightning, anger and worry surging through her. The other two kits, Crystalkit and Pigeonkit, had been watching. They beat Sandypaw to their sister and stared in horror at her. As Sandypaw made her way to Streamkit, the silver she-cat seemed to recover and got up. Her eyes betrayed sadness. "She hates me," she whispered quietly.

Sandypaw shook her head and stroked Streamkit with her tail. "No she doesn't. She's just..." Sandypaw paused. If she told Streamkit her description of Snowyfeather, it would probably upset the kit even more. "Never mind. Look, go play with your siblings."

Streamkit nodded silently and stood up. Sandypaw looked around. No one seemed to have noticed what went on between Snowyfeather and her daughter. As Flamefur's kits walked away, Sandypaw heard Pigeonkit say, "I changed my mind. Mom won't be my assistant when I'm deputy, you can count on that."

Anger rushed through her body. How can Snowyfeather be so cruel? And to a kit! Her kit! Sandypaw narrowed her eyes against the blazing sun and sank her claws into the ground. She began answering Streamkit's question in her mind. No, Streamkit, I don't hate you. I just despise your mother!

...Sand...Fire...

"Let all cats gather around the HighBoulder for a Clan meeting!"

Sandypaw raised her head as she heard the call. Yawning, she got up, only to be pushed back down. She glared at the darkness, unable to see who had pushed her. "Whoever did that, don't do it again!"

"Whoever did that, don't do it again!" mimicked the unmistakable voice of Ravenpaw. The black apprentice came close to her and grinned. "You can't give me orders."

"Don't start acting like you're superior over me!" Sandypaw shot back. "You can't give me orders either!"

Ravenpaw glared at her and opened his mouth to say something rude, but Frailpaw came between them. "Ravenpaw," she mewed sternly. "Stop this! I don't want to see or hear of it!"

Ravenpaw's eyes softened a bit. "Sure, Frailpaw." He shot one last glare at Sandypaw before sweeping out of the den. Sandypaw nodded her thanks to Frailpaw. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it," Frailpaw meowed. "He'll do anything for me. Well, if I asked him to kill himself, he probably wouldn't, but oh well."

Sandypaw smiled ruefully. If he did kill himself, what a joy that would be!

The two she-cats walked outside and stared at the stars. Frailpaw nodded. "Looks like something important is happening."

"I'll say!" Sandypaw smiled at Duskpaw, who had just appeared by her side. "What do you mean?"

"You'll see," Duskpaw answered.

On the HighBoulder, Oakstar called out weakly, "Settle down, please, FireClan!" No one except Sandypaw and Duskpaw seemed to hear him.

"Poor Oakstar," Sandypaw whispered. "He's getting old."

"He's been old for moons, and he was strong then," Duskpaw snorted.

Flamefur went to stand beside Oakstar and caterwauled. It immediately became quiet. Flamefur stepped back to let Oakstar talk, but Oakstar whispered something to him. Flamefur nodded in understanding and faced the Clan. "Cats of FireClan, tonight Webclaw and Graypaw will go to the MoonCrystal. There, Graypaw will get her new name."

A cheer arose amidst all the cats. Sandypaw whispered to Duskpaw, "Wasn't Graypaw supposed to get her name a few moons ago?"

Duskpaw shrugged. "I heard it was delayed or something."

"As it is," Flamefur meowed loudly. "Cloudclan have been scented on our territory... again. We will be making sure that all patrols check the CloudClan border to see that no Cloudclan cat has crossed over. Brackenfang, Bearfoot, you're in charge for the night patrols."

The two cats nodded, gathered some cats together, and left.

"We have another task also. To make kits into apprentices."

He nodded at something. Forestkit, Grasskit, Leopardkit, and Flowerkit stumbled up onto the HighBoulder, their pelts licked thoroughly and their eyes shining. Flamefur beckoned them to him. They strutted forward, their tails held high in the air.

"From this moment on you shall be known as Forestpaw, Leopardpaw, Grasspaw, and Flowerpaw," Flamefur declared. "Forestpaw, your mentor will be - "

At that moment, Brackenfang and Bearfoot raced into the camp with their patrols. Brackenfang was badly wounded from head to tail, a fresh cut slicking from his muzzle to his neck. He managed to gasp out, "CloudClan... Ambush... Nothing I could do..." Then he collapsed. A horrified yowl arose from the cats and Sandypaw was knocked to one side as Frecklecloud pushed past them. "That's my mate!" she yowled, her eyes turning amber with shock. "Brackenfang! Brackenfang!!"

A few cats tried to calm her as Bearfoot, who was not as wounded as bad as Brackenfang, spoke to Oakstar and Flamefur. "Some CloudClan cats ambushed us. Then almost all of CloudClan surrounded us, and we barely managed to escape. Rockstar was not among them." He paused, his eyes glinting with hate. "But Pinefoot was."

Someone yowled, "Rockstar was telling the truth!"

Bearfoot continued on, more urgently, "They followed us. We lost them, but they should know the way to the FireClan camp. We have to be ready to do battle!"

Oakstar spoke finally, his voice sounding much stronger, "Take Brackenfang to the medicine den, Webclaw. Kits, elders, and queens shelter in the nursery. Warriors, stand by and be ready to fight. Apprentices, remember your training. Lightningfur, keep watch at the bramble thicket. Yowl if you see them coming."

"Can we fight too?" Forestpaw asked.

"No, you haven't had training yet," Oakstar answered. "Go to the nursery with your brother and sisters."

He jumped off the HighBoulder and turned to Flamefur. "I can take care of myself this time, Flamefur. Help the others."

"No," Flamefur growled. "If there is a battle, I will stand by your side until I die. You were my mentor."

Oakstar nodded and sat down, staring silently as the cats of FireClan bustled about.

Duskpaw jumped up and down in excitement. "Oh, thank you StarClan, my first battle ever! I'm gonna make those CloudClan cats wish they had never been born."

"Yes, you'll scare them by jumping up and down like a kit," Sandypaw teased, although secretly she hoped Applepaw would not be among the CloudClan cats.

Sandypaw joined Glaciercloud, Fogpelt, Rosecloud, and Cedarfur. As soon as Duskpaw saw Fogpelt, she snorted and turned away. "I'm going to go help Graypaw sort herbs."

Sandypaw nodded and looked at Glaciercloud for instructions. Glaciercloud meowed, "You come with us. We're going to the nursery to put up some branches at its entrance so it will be protected."

Sandypaw stared at her. "Don't you think it's a bit late for that?"

"Even if there's little time left, you can make the best of it," Rosecloud meowed in her honey smooth voice, her wavy brown fur flowing against the wind. "That's what my mother taught me."

Cedarfur picked up a branch in his mouth. "Help me carry this," he directed Sandypaw, his voice a bit muffled. Sandypaw nodded and picked the other end up in her teeth, wincing as the sharp branch jabbed her in her paw. She narrowed her eyes and didn't complain, helping the warriors to put up the tree branches. As soon as the nursery was completely covered up, Fogpelt leaned back and sighed. "Done. Finally."

And then, Lightningfur's yowl echoed throughout the camp. Sandypaw felt the ground beneath her begin to shake, and she stared as Lightningfur raced into the camp. "They're here! CloudClan's h - !"

His voice was drowned out as CloudClan cats swarmed through the bramble thicket, apparently not feeling the sharp jabs of the thorns against their fur. Pinefoot leaped ahead of them and swiped the air with his claws, his fangs bared menacingly. "Fear the great Pinestar!"

"Pinestar?" Wildfeather yowled out incredulously. "What about Rockstar?"

But Pinestar did not answer. Instead, he turned and faced his Clan. "Attack!!!"

The rival Clan yowled a battle cry and met FireClan with tooth and claw. The battle had begun.


I know, I know. What happened to Rockstar? You'll see.

The reason I didn't show what Duskpaw is going to do to Cloverwing is beacuse I'm gonna put in the next chapter. Really and truly, I have no clue what she's going to do. Lemme think about that.

Poor Streamkit. Her mother hates her. Wahhh!! -cries- -raises battle axe- Evil Snowyfeather!!!!

Ok, I have two other things. One, you can give me your idea of a name for one of Frecklecloud's kits. Just one, though. If I choose your name, you get... -drumroll- this life size plushie of Sandypaw! She talks and walks. Look, see. -turns to big Sandypaw plushie- Hi, Sandypaw!

Sandypaw plushie - Hi!

Me - I hate Snowyfeather.

Sandypaw plushie - (growls and unsheathes claws) Me too, me too!

Me- See? It's so awesome! But if you review at all, you get a Streamkit plushie and... -drumroll- A Snowyfeather voodoo plushie! Yay! (ThrushflightEdward'sStalker, you can stick Snowyfeather with a spear now!)

Buh-bye, and review please:)