It's been a while… chapter starts out in Leopardpaw's POV. I don't know why but I just haven't had the drive to finish this story, but because I fell in love with the characters, I'm giving you guys this chapter. Don't even ask if there'll be updates because I honestly don't know.

Disclaimer: I do not own the WARRIORS series, Erin Hunter does. Nor do I own the idea of a Fearsome Foursome, that belongs to malicent. However, all characters and plot are rightfully mine.

"I can't stop what's coming, there's only one way through."

-Artist Unknown, Lean In

Chapter 11: Accidents Happen

I felt my face heat up with shame as my whole Clan looked at me expectantly. "Morningpaw . . . she's—she's gone," I whispered, my ears settling flat against my head. A familiar pelt brushing against mine caused me to momentarily tense up. I knew without looking up that it was Stormflight; I could feel his blue gaze settling on me.

"Morningpaw's dead? What happened?" Hawkpaw asked, his voice hesitant.

Water clouded my eyes and I turned away. Yes, Morningpaw and I had never gotten along but that didn't mean that her death hadn't affected me. What were you running from?

Thornwhisker spoke carefully, "She fell over the gorge and nobody could reach her in time. It was a tragic loss," he said, his eyes flashing.

"Morningpaw was brave. She went over the gorge because she was trying to save Shadekit," Stormflight said, his voice slicing through the silence. It was like he was openly challenging Thornwhisker to argue, but the brown tom just held his tongue and shrugged.

Dovepaw's voice came out in a sob, "Why didn't you try and save her? Great StarClan, Leopardpaw, I know you two didn't get along but how could you let her fall? How could you do that to your own Clanmate?"

I narrowed my eyes and blinked away the tears. "I did try and save her, don't act like you were there. Dovepaw you have no idea," I snapped.

"Calm down, Leopardpaw," Wolfpaw growled, giving me a hard shove. My mouth dropped in surprise. What had I done to make everyone so angry? I had tried to save Morningpaw, it wasn't my fault she let go! "Maybe you should just cool off. Go get some air or something," my brother suggested.

My confusion dissipated into anger and I gave Wolfpaw a flat glare before turning and leaving camp. Part of me wishes I would have just snapped a smart reply back at him and stayed, but unfortunately that wasn't me.

However, if I had stayed, I would have heard Shadekit's voice calling out, "Thank you Leopardpaw, for saving me."

I ended up going all the way to Fourtrees. The clearing was seemed so much smaller without the crowds of excited apprentices, friendly elders, chattering warriors, and impressive looking deputies and leaders.

Then there was the Great Rock.

Before I could even think twice I found myself climbing the smooth surface until I reached the top. My breath hitched in my throat. The view was stunning. Being up there only made my dream of being leader more tangible. One day I would be up here as ThunderClan's leader.

"So you come here too?"

I let out a shriek of surprise and nearly slipped off. A strong shoulder nudged me back upwards, allowing me to scramble to the top and whip around. "Runningpaw?"

The white tom gave me an apologetic smile. "Hey there, Leopardpaw," he mewed, pulling himself the rest of the way onto the rock. I backed up to the edge and allowed my claws to slide out from their sheathes.

Thankfully he had noticed my obvious discomfort. "Relax, I have no quarrel with ThunderClan," he said with a flick of his ear and a sly grin.

I felt a small smile tug itself onto my lips, "What are you doing here?" I asked cautiously.

Runningpaw shrugged, "My Clan just doesn't understand me sometimes. I hate living there but at the same time I don't want to leave," he confessed with a lopsided smile. I felt my face grow warm and inched away from him. Runningpaw's smile was deceiving, it made him look more innocent than he really was.

"Believe me, I understand," I muttered. "I love ThunderClan, but sometimes I feel like an outsider looking in."

The WindClan tom watched me with curious eyes. "Sometimes?" he asked.

I looked away, "Sometimes it's not bad. Like when we got to play Capture and my team beat Thornwhisker's. Or when Stormflight and I became friends."

Despite the fact that I was rambling, Runningpaw seemed genuinely interested. That was until I said the name Stormflight. Then he just tensed up and shot me a sharp glance, "You're friends with Stormflight? Haven't you heard the stories?"

I narrowed my eyes, "Stories? What are you talking about?"

Runningpaw got to his paws, his once friendly gaze now showing how upset he was, "Of course you haven't heard, Swiftstar made sure all those rumors were buried a long time ago. Great StarClan, Leopardpaw, they're toying with you."

By this time, I too, had gotten to my paws. "Nobody's toying with me! Especially Stormflight," I snapped, feeling defensive for my Clanmates.

The white tom scoffed, "You know what? Go find out what kind of life your 'friend' lived before he became deputy. Then you'll know why everybody secretly hates him," he snapped. I watched in dismay as Runningpaw leapt down into the clearing and stalked into the undergrowth.

I hesitated. Stormflight had a secret—we all knew that. The problem was trying to find somebody who knew it.

Entering camp wasn't exactly fun. By the time I had come back it was close enough to dark that luckily the other apprentices were already in the den. The moment I stepped foot into camp I heard someone say, "Leopardpaw."

Of course.

I reluctantly turned to see Brightflame looking at me with concerned eyes. "Have you eaten today?" she asked gently. I let out a breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding. She wasn't mad at me. I was relieved; Brightflame was practically my mother. It would break my heart to hurt her.

I shrugged in reply. The ginger and white she-cat gave me a hard look before nudging me towards the fresh-kill pile. To please her I took a small sparrow and ate it quickly, devouring the small prey in a few famished gulps.

Licking my jaws, I headed for the apprentices' den, managing to slip in quickly and sleep in the abandoned nest farthest from everyone else.

Gingerpaw

"Faster!" Palestripe snapped.

I ducked out of the way of Larkpaw's claws and managed to rake my own across her cheek. She grinned, seeming unfazed by the blood that was dripping across her face, "You're getting better."

"But not good enough," Palestripe muttered.

I bristled but before I could say anything Larkpaw beat me to it, "Chill out, Palestripe. He's ready," she said firmly.

"Ready? Ready for what?" I asked, my tail twitching in my impatience.

The gray-white tom rolled his eyes, "Are you sure? He's strong but I don't know if—"

"I'm sure," Larkpaw said, her voice a bit harsher than before. "If you don't trust my judgment, Palestripe, then maybe you should just—"

I stepped in front of her and frowned lightly, my hazel eyes narrowing. "Its fine, Larkpaw. I can handle anything," I said confidently. I knew it too. Over the past few training sessions with Palestripe and Larkpaw I had become sturdier, more powerful.

The tortoiseshell she-cat studied me carefully and burst out laughing. She really was crazy. "Okay, Gingerpaw, if you're so sure about yourself then you can help us out tomorrow night. Be prepared for the fight of your life," she warned before smiling, her eyes having a feverish tint to them.

I hesitated momentarily, "And if I lose this fight? What does that mean?"

The she-cat laughed against and flicked her tail on my shoulder, "Then it means you weren't worth our time, silly."

Her words made me even more determined. I would prove myself.

A/N: I feel as if all my FanFic friends have gone on a year hiatus and I'm the only one that came back :/

But on the brighter side, look at that new cover, I feel proud of it :)

-Storm