Here it is! It's shorter than some of mine, but I loved the ending so much that I decided to just wrap it up :) No cliffie I promise! And now, review answers!

Miryam Lea: I know, aren't i EVIL? *sneaky grin*

brokenpaw: Your review made my whole day happy! I'm serious! I mean, I wouldn't call myself a movie star, but the compliment made me smile! And since it makes you so happy when I answer, I promise to answer your every review in my A/N's! Was her name really that predictable? I'm afraid that's a little pathetic, but hey, it sounds good, doesn't it? And no worries :) I can personally guarantee that Darkflight will survive...this book (yes, I'm planning a sequel). I did toy with the idea of killing him off, but decided on another cat instead. The other cat, whose name I cannot mention, for it will ruin the glorious ending I have planned, will be equally heart-wrenching. (this is a long A/N!) I'm glad you liked the speech :) for a few minutes, i wondered if it was too dramatic, then decided to keep it anyway, cause i just loved it so much, and it revealed a lot about Stonepelt. Thank you, once again, for calling me amazing! Your reviews just make me smile, ya know that? I know, the Lionclaw bit was hard to write, lemme tell you. I was choking up. It gets sadder :( Again, keep reviewing, cause you never fail to make me smile!

Cheesey the Cat: I love your story! Okay, moving on...You were not blabbering, don't worry :) And is that so? Spooky...As a writer, thank you for telling me that my writing made you feel something. It makes me happy, knowing my readers feel when they read my gibberish. :)

On with the story!

(oh, btw, there is such thing as an albino duck!)


Chapter 10

Ravenpaw panted as she faced Echostep, tail lashing in frustration. She faced her calmly, tail flicking absently. Growling now, she narrowed her eyes and thought it out.

They had been training since dawn, and it was sunset now. Ravenpaw could feel herself growing exhausted. She needed food and sleep desperately. A cold wind blew into the hollow, piercing her skin, making her shiver. Her mentor had suggested she fight with another cat, to get used to other battle tactics. Echostep, being the youngest warrior, had volunteered energetically, and now sat, fur barely ruffled. Stonepelt now sat, observing the battle carefully, eyes wide.

Breathing deeply, Ravenpaw sized Echostep up. Slender and agile, she was fast, very fast. Ravenpaw was her equal in strength, although she was smaller. She unsheathed her claws and sank them into the moss. Her and Echostep were pretty evenly matched except….Ravenpaw grinned slyly. Perfect.

Crouching, she darted forward, watching Echostep's every move. She crouched also, hissing. Ravenpaw kept back a chuckle. A few feet from Echostep, she jumped, sailing through the air and twisting perfectly mid-air. Landing, she effortlessly held on as a confused Echostep tried to shake her off. Now for the good part. Grunting, Ravenpaw sank her claws into Echostep's thick fur before tossing her body off Echostep. Yowling, Echostep fell with her, surprise glowing in her eyes. Faster than the wind, Ravenpaw jumped up and pounced on the young warrior, pinning her down. She purred with satisfaction then looked towards her mentor for approval.

Stonepelt stood and padded towards his apprentice, shock registering on his face.

"I've never seen that move. Where did you learn it?" he meowed, tail flicking.

"I made it up. I knew that Echostep would be easily confused by me jumping, enough to throw her off. But, when I landed, she would be able to throw me off. So, I came up with the idea of taking her with me. When I finally fell off, she fell too, allowing me to jump on her and win," she explained rapidly, not caring that she was babbling. The adrenaline was still coursing through her veins, making her tail lash and her fur bristle. Stonepelt gazed at her, amazed.

"That was truly incredible, Ravenpaw. I've never seen an apprentice come up with a move that accurate and precise," he meowed, obviously still surprised. Ravenpaw purred at his praise.

"Well, you will definitely be going to the Gathering tonight. And I will talk to Leafstar about your warrior ceremony soon," he purred, pride shining in his eyes. Eyes widening, Ravenpaw gave a little bounce before calming herself down, trying to show she was ready for it.

"Thank you, Stonepelt," she purred. Turning towards Echostep, who was still shaking sand out of her silver pelt, she gave a mrroww of laughter.

"You should have seen your face when I jumped. Shall we hunt on the way back?" she asked teasingly, still giddy from the way her inventive move had turned out. Echostep purred agreement. Waving her tail in farewell to Stonepelt, the two she-cats padded towards camp together.


"Oakshadow, Stonepelt, Mousewhisker, Lionclaw, Echostep, and Ravenpaw, you will all attend the gathering," Leafstar yowled, tail waving excitedly, fur shining in the moonlight. Ravenpaw let out a small sigh of disappointment. She had wanted Darkflight to come. He shrugged and gave her a lick on the ear as she stood to leave.

"Careful. Who knows what RiverClan may demand as payment. And there's still ShadowClan to worry about," he meowed, dark tail flicking. Ravenpaw purred as she returned his lick on his cheek, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"RiverClan better not be greedy, or I'll stuff voles down their throats. And ShadowClan can chase their tails," she mewed dismissively, flicking her tail. She'd gotten pretty good at the cat insults, if she did say so. Darkflight purred with amusement.

"You watch out. I don't want rogues coming again. If something happens, do me a favor, and don't die until I get here?" she meowed, a bit more seriously. Worry gnawed at her as she gazed at him. He still bore the scars from the last fight on his broad shoulders and muscled flank. And his torn ear would be a reminder forever as to how close she came to losing him.

"I'll be fine," he stated, flicking her with his tail. She dipped her head, hiding her fear as she padded away. His voice echoed in her mind, "I won't let you fly away, not until I grow wings and can fly with you,".

Racing through the wintry forest beside Stonepelt, Ravenpaw felt a rush. She couldn't but chuckle as she remembered that only a few moons ago, she had tripped and stumbled all over, fighting her way through the thick gorse. Now, she moved fluidly among the undergrowth, jumping over logs with ease, her hard muscles pounding under her sleek fur.

Arriving at FourTrees, she scented the air cautiously, waiting for Leafstar to give the signal. RiverClan and WindClan. Her heart skipped a beat as Leafstar signaled, and the Clan rose as one, pelts rippling. They poured into the clearing, fanning out.

Looking around, she caught sight of Finchpaw and Sunpaw with a group of young apprentices. Smiling in her feline way, she weaved her way to them.

"Hello," she mewed, tail flicking as Sunpaw's burning orange gaze turned on her. Finchpaw gave a purr of greeting, and Sunpaw gave her a quick nod. Turning her head, she looked at the other apprentices, all smelling of RiverClan.

There was Snakepaw, a brown tom whose fur had darker streaks of black on it and burning amber eyes. Lilypaw was a pretty, slender silver she-cat with clear gray eyes that shone with warmth and friendliness. Last, there was Leopardpaw, who had golden fur with black splotches on it. His eyes were the color of molten gold, observing her closely and calmly as he sized the rival apprentice up.

She dipped her head to them, eyes flashing.

"I'm Ravenpaw, of ThunderClan," she meowed, sitting. They all nodded in agreement. The RiverClan cats looked at her scars and suddenly, Lilypaw's eyes widened.

"You're the she-cat!" she gasped. Ravenpaw looked at her blankly.

"Uh, excuse me?" she asked. Lilypaw purred with laughter.

"Don't think we haven't heard of you! You're Ravenpaw, the apprentice who beat the leader of the rogues single-pawed," she stated excitedly, tail waving. Leopardpaw's eyes widened in amazement, and Sunpaw gazed at her with unrestrained awe. Ravenpaw twitched her ear uncomfortably.

"Spiderstar was right, you are small," Snakepaw coolly observed. Ravenpaw cast him a cold glance, tail twitching irritably.

"As are you," she responded calmly. Lilypaw stifled a snort of laughter, and Finchpaw's big eyes widened as she started to shake her head in warning. Snakepaw's eyes blazed and he jumped to his paws.

"Yeah, I'm small! Doesn't mean I'm not as good as you!" he spat, tail lashing. Ravenpaw glared at him icily.

"Chill. I didn't say that. You started it, so don't even start with me," she meowed, turning her head away. Hissing, he stalked away, tail still lashing. She looked at his clanmates, her eyes asking her unspoken question.

"He's been small since birth. Really ticks him off when cats mention it," Leopardpaw rumbled. Ravenpaw tilted her head up to respond. Seriously, this cat was massive.

"I'm small, and it don't tick me off. Some of my friends even call me little one," she meowed boldly. Leopardpaw just shrugged.

"He's my brother, and I still don't understand why it bugs him so much," Sunpaw muttered, examining his claws. Ravenpaw let out a laugh and Finchpaw purred. A yowl sounded from the Great Rock, and Ravenpaw listened idly as Cloudstar gave her report, shortage of prey, new apprentice, blah blah blah. Spiderstar stepped up, and she tensed.

"The cold brings a small shortage of prey, as usual, but we are still able to feed our Clan quite well. We recently helped ThunderClan in a battle with rogues, and none of my warriors were seriously harmed, thank StarClan," he meowed, then stepped back. Ravenpaw let our a silent sigh of relief. She was glad he hadn't demanded anything crazy. Leafstar slipped to the front.

"ThunderClan does not suffer greatly with the cold. As Spiderstar said, we were attacked by rogues a few weeks ago. We thank RiverClan for their brave assistance. All my warriors have healed, and we still patrol the borders quite frequently," she meowed, voice laced with a threat. Ravenpaw held her head high, trying to prove she wasn't suffering.

Leafstar dipped her head before allowing Nightstar to pad forward. His eyes burned as he glared at the ThunderClan cats.

"We continue to find ThunderClan scents. We cannot find him though. It is strange, how well he eludes our patrols. Be warned, Leafstar, that if you do not take care of this, we will be forced into war. This cannot continue!" he growled, massive shoulders rolling impressively. To Leafstar's credit, she merely turned her green gaze on him, tail barely twitching.

"I will see to it. Are you quite sure it is a tom?" she mewed calmly, fur smooth. Nightstar dipped his head in assent. He continued with his report, which Ravenpaw barely listened to. Someone was still leaving their scent on ShadowClan territory. But who? Who would do that?


Waking up the next morning, Ravenpaw continued to ponder the question in the solitude of her den.

Padding out, she was met by a very proud Jaypelt, and three very excited kits. She purred as she saw them, and they bounded towards her happily, tails waving excitedly.

"Guess what Ravenpaw!" Graykit meowed, eyes blazing. Although she thought she knew, she decided to humor them.

"What? Did you three get into Barktail's stores again?" she asked playfully. Poppykit shook her head frantically, to excited to glare at her for mentioning that day. They'd gotten in a heap of trouble for that.

"No, silly! Leafstar is gonna make us apprentices today!" she yowled, pouncing on Ravenpaw. Laughing, all the kits tumbled onto her. Ravenpaw purred as she played with them. Jaypelt looked torn between pride and worry, grief shining as she looked at her young kits. Ravenpaw remembered Echostep telling her how her mate had been killed by a fox when he went hunting early one morning. Jaypelt had given birth to her kits two days later, and every cat commented on how Graykit was an exact replica of his father.

"All right, all right," she purred, standing and licking at her fur.

"You three better start acting like apprentices. It's hard work, let me tell you, but all worth it," she meowed seriously. All the kits nodded, eyes huge. She bit back a laugh as she looked into their fresh, innocent faces. Mosskit stood suddenly and rubbed herself against Ravenpaw's front legs.

"You're a good sister, Ravenpaw," she purred, blue eyes shining with admiration as she looked at the older cat. Ravenpaw gazed at them lovingly as they all padded up and rubbed themselves against her. She let out a choked purr to see how they had grown up so much.

Graykit was getting sturdier and more solid by the day, long gray fur constantly sticking up as he never took the time to smooth it down. Poppykit was slender and long, with glowing amber eyes. She took great care with her pretty black and white pelt, never letting it get sullied by mud or dirt. Mosskit, like her sister was slender and agile, quick both in running and in mind. Her brown fur was long like her mother's and her blue eyes held depth and understanding in them.

Ravenpaw looked at them almost as proudly as though they were her own. Jaypelt padded up, eyes shining with love.

"All right kits, time to get ready for your ceremony," she mewed, snatching Graykit up as he tried to run away, and starting to lick him fiercely. Ravenpaw smoothed Mosskit's fur down, getting the hard to reach places. Poppykit needed no help, her fur already in pristine condition. After helping the kits, Ravenpaw groomed herself to perfection, not one bit of fur sticking up, not a speck of dirt.

"Let all cats gather here beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" Leafstar yowled, silver fur sleek and shining as she gazed at her clan with pride and affection. Ravenpaw watched as Darkflight padded to her side, his fur groomed for the ceremony, eyes blazing with excitement. Ravenpaw guess that he would be getting one of the kits for his first apprentice. She gave his shoulder a quick lick where the fur was sticking up. He nodded his thanks, kneading the ground with his paws.

"Now, it is time for one of my favorite duties as leader. Come here kits," she meowed as she jumped down. The kits scampered over to her, eyes all shining.

"Blackfur, you will mentor Mosspaw. You have proven yourself to be a warrior of exceptional intelligence and speed, and I trust you will pass on everything our departed Hawkfur taught you," Leafstar meowed. Blackfur stepped forward, and Mosspaw padded calmly to her new mentor, eyes shining.

"Darkflight, you will mentor Graypaw. You are a warrior of great skill and strength, and I trust you will pass on everything Fernstep has taught you to this apprentice." Darkflight's nervousness dissipated as he stepped forward to touch noses with his new apprentice. Graypaw looked up at him with unrestrained admiration, tail waving excitedly.

The Clan murmured as Barktail stepped forward. Poppykit's eyes blazed with happiness.

"ThunderClan, I won't live forever. Poppykit has asked to become the medicine cat apprentice, and I willingly accept her," he rasped. Ravenpaw noticed the silver around his muzzle and the stiffness in his gait. Leafstar nodded.

"Poppykit, is it your wish to enter the training of a medicine cat, to learn the secrets of StarClan, to heal your clan and never take a mate or have kits?" Leafstar asked. Poppykit raised her head proudly as she responded, "It is."

"Then, Poppypaw, at the half-moon, you shall go with Barktail to the Moonstone and be admitted to the mysteries of a medicine cat," Leafstar finished. Poppypaw padded up to her mentor happily touching noses with him. The Clan began to rise but was stopped by a yowl from Leafstar.

"I have one more ceremony to perform. Ravenpaw, step forward." Ravenpaw's eyes widened. Stonepelt slipped up to her side, ready to escort her, as was custom. Excitement coursed through her and pure joy burst from her heart as she stepped forward and padded towards her leader.

For almost four moons, she had worked so hard to prove she was worthy. That she was ready. Every bit of prey she had caught, every scratch she had received had been for this one moment. The greatest moment of her life.

Turning her head, she caught the ghostly outline of a red she-cat padding at her other side. Robin…

I am here, sister. I shall be with you as you receive your name, as you would have for me. I'm so proud of you Raven, her sister's voice whispered in her mind. Raising her sleek head proudly, Ravenpaw stopped in front her leader, catching sight of Darkflight's eyes filled with pride and love.

"I, Leafstar, Leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the way of your noble code, and I commend her to you as a warrior in turn. Ravenpaw, do you promise to uphold the code, to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?" Leafstar asked, eyes glowing as she looked at the young cat. Ravenpaw looked her leader in the eyes joyfully.

"I do," she responded, voice steady and calm.

"Then, by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Ravenpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Ravenwing. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of ThunderClan!" Leafstar finished with a yowl.

Ravenwing's heart swelled as the clan chanted her new name. "Ravenwing, Ravenwing!" She could hear Robin chanting it too before she disappeared. She looked at Stonepelt, who was looking at his former apprentice so proudly, she thought he would burst. Fernstep yowled her name from where she sat in front of the nursery, her stomach beginning to swell. Darkflight slipped to her side.

"Ravenwing!" he purred, eyes glowing as he rubbed his cheek against hers. She twined her tail with his, brushing her fur to his. Perfect. Every cat slipped up to congratulate her, eyes shining warmly. Icefur's kits scampered up to yowl their happiness, leaping on her happily. The new apprentices approached her proudly, giving her licks and purrs. Icefur dashed up, covering Ravenwing's face with licks while trying to purr, as proud as any mother.

Well, every cat but Lionclaw and Shadowfur of course. They both retreated to the warrior's den, but she only ignored them. Not even they could spoil this.

She turned her head to her former mentor, who stood, looking at her proudly, amazed. He shook his head, eyes shining.

"I can't believe my tiny, scrawny, overexcited, clumsy apprentice turned into this," he purred. Ravenwing laughed.

"And what am I now?" she asked playfully, green eyes gazing into her friend's dark amber ones.

"A skilled, graceful, intelligent, clever, brave, kind, caring, generous, hard-working, loyal warrior," he responded confidently, tail waving. Ravenwing gazed at her mentor affectionately.

"It's all thanks to you, Stonepelt. I want you to know that you didn't just teach me how to hunt and fight. You taught me something else too. Something that lies in the heart, not the claws. You taught me how to have the heart of a true warrior, about bravery, sacrifice, and loyalty. It was you, Stonepelt, who encouraged me to go on, even when no one else thought I could. And it was you who first looked past my loner roots and saw me. Thank you, Stonepelt," she meowed warmly, eyes glowing softly. Stonepelt let out a choked purr, as Ravenwing gave him a gentle lick on the cheek. He padded swiftly away to Fernstep before his former apprentice could see the not-so-tomlike tears gathering in his eyes.

Darkflight padded up beside her, brushing his pelt against hers.

"And me?" he asked softly, sitting beside her. Ravenwing purred.

"You see me as me, Darkflight, despite all my imperfections. Your there, always, and I know I can always trust you to be there. You helped me get through the tough times, like when Stormclaw died. I love you Darkflight, and I always will, I promise," she purred, leaning her head against his strong shoulder. Darkflight let out a rumbling purr.

"You are perfect, Ravenwing, and the only one for me. You complete me, and without you, I wouldn't be half of what I am. I love you, Ravenwing," he meowed in her ear. She looked up, drowning in his pale green eyes. He leaned his head against hers, twining his tail with hers. Their noses touched gently.

"Will you have me?" he breathed, eyes shining with hope and love.

"Always and forever," Ravenwing purred, joy bursting from her heart, love pouring from her eyes.


Ravenwing sat her vigil that night, not feeling the cold as snow fell on her. This was life. This was her destiny. Stonepelt's words echoed in her mind. Without it, every cat is just an empty shell. She breathed, her breath a white cloud in the black night. The moon shone above, and the stars seemed to shine brighter than ever.

The real part of it is how fast you get back up and dance in the rain again. Robin's words floated around her, dream-like, from long ago. She glanced over, seeing her sister's ghostly outline, with two other cat's she knew just as well. Joy flooded her.

Robin! Streampelt! Stormclaw! She cried in her mind. She gazed at them lovingly.

"Little one, the hardest is yet to come. But we will be with you, I promise," Stormclaw's voice whispered in her mind.

"I knew you could do it. I'm very proud of you," Streampelt's voice echoed. Ravenwing purred.

"I love you Raven, and I'm so proud of you!" her sister cried, green eyes glowing.

Thank you Robin, but my name isn't Raven. It's Ravenwing now. I love you too, she purred, gazing at her sister. Robin's eyes shone even brighter at her words.

"Now, little one, you are a true warrior," Stormclaw mewed before they all dissipated, leaving only the cold leaf-bare night.


Aww, I just love the ending for some reason! One of my better chapters, i must admit! All right, I'll put a little less fluff in the next chapter. This one seemed chock-full of it haha :) My fingers type what they will! Oh, and I'm still waiting on Fernstep's kits! Please guys, I really need some name ideas!

Till next time,

Monkey!