I'm back! And here's another italics-filled chapter. OMG, guess what? The Hunger Games movie is now in theaters! Everybody just has to see it, and I can't wait to see it! Review Answer:

starbomb: You were my only reviewer! Here are some Lionblaze, Jayfeather, and Dovewing plushies to add to your collection! Can't wait until you get your laptop! And Tigerstar will do some pretty interesting things... And yes, she is powerful, but it won't matter until she learns how to use her powers, and no will tell her! AAAAAAAAHHHHHH! She must be irritated.;) I hope you like this chapter!

"I need you to teach me how to use my power."

Redpaw waited for the reply. There was no other task to do. And she was was patient. In the last moon, she had learned patience was a valuable virtue around the dark she-cat.

"Redpaw," Shadow said reluctantly. "I cannot teach you about your strength. If you knew, you would kill yourself, either by accident or on purpose."

"Why?" Redpaw pressed, her icy gaze boring into Shadow. The starry black she-cat stepped forward.

"I can discipline you if you push me to, Redpaw." she hissed, unsheathing her claws. "I am not a coward, like Star. I am not afraid of your power." Redpaw held her gaze.

"If I am as powerful as you say, and you are not afraid of me, then why are you so hesitant to teach me how to use my power. Could you at least tell me what my power is?" she asked hopefully. Shadow glared at her, and slashed at her front limb. The she-cat's ivory claws left a long, fine mark just below her chest on her right foreleg. Redpaw winced.

"No. Even that would help you learn to manipulate your specialty." she spat. Redpaw yowled in frustration. She scraped her claws against the cool stone.

"Why must I work so hard to get anything but riddles from you, Shadow?" she snarled. Shadow's muzzle curved into a smile.

"Because, I, in myself, am a riddle." she whispered. Redpaw caught no humor in her voice, like she had expected. Shadow was hiding something, deep inside her heart. She could feel it in her pads, just like when someone stepped with their paws...

"Now go!" Shadow meowed coldly. "Go back to your reality!" she commanded. Redpaw didn't need to be told twice. She closed her eyes slowly, breathing deeply.

Her eyelids fluttered open. Her nest was a rec. Moss and bracken was strewn all over the den, and she was splayed out in an odd position, the cut Shadow had given her stinging madly. Redpaw dabbed at it with her tongue, and to her surprise, a inky black rash had started to spread around the cut. She yelped in surprise as the vile taste of the rash mixed with the metallic blood gathered on her tongue.

Something is wrong with Shadow, really wrong! She thought, horror welling up in her stomach like a monster, devouring every speck of warm emotion in it's path.

I need to tell Stormpaw! she decided. Shaking various tendrils of assorted nest material from her ginger pelt, she rose from her warm bedding and allowed the morning sunlight to wash her face and she tilted her head upward.

Stormpaw lay laughing with Weaselpaw by the stone wall, sunning themselves lazily. "Stormpaw!" she greeted, padding over. She caught Dustypaw sitting alone, flashing her a menacing look. Stormpaw looked up and purred.

"Hello, Redpaw," he mewed. Weaselpaw dipped his head and licked his forepaws briefly. "Where did you get that cut?" Stormpaw asked, suddenly looking rather alarmed. Redpaw flicked her tail casually.

"Oh, I just got that cut yesterday when I accidentally got caught in the thorn barrier yesterday." she said, but she swiveled her ears in the direction of their secret hollow, a signal that they had created in order to say silently that they had to talk.

Redpaw saw that Dustypaw was still looking at her angrily. What's his problem? she thought irritably. Stormpaw bit his lip and sat up.

"Would you like to go for a walk, Redpaw?" he asked, just checking to see if her gesture had meant what he thought. Redpaw nodded, confirming his question.

Some of the elders purred quietly at the sight of the pair strutting out of the camp. Redpaw realized that everyone must think that they were sweet on each other.

Redpaw gulped, wondering if it was true. Of course not! she thought, half bitterly. He's the son of a goddess! she reminded herself.

Redpaw began to walk towards their secret place, when Stormpaw stopped in his tracks, and pricked his ears. Redpaw picked the low hum of vibration of pawsteps that stirred the earth's core. She froze, and her hackles rose. Her head rotated around, searching for any sign of their pursuer.

"Stormpaw?" she whispered, barely audible. "Did you catch the specific scent of anyone?" she asked. Stormpaw nodded.

"I did."

"And it was...?" she prompted. Stormpaw gulped and sighed.

"It was Dustypaw." he said. "Dustypaw was following us, Redpaw. I think..." he trailed off. Heat radiated off of his pelt. Redpaw's brow furrowed. "I think he was jealous of... you and me." Stormpaw whispered. Redpaw's eyes widened.

Did Dustypaw actually have any feelings for her? Redpaw felt tingly inside, warmth that drowned out all other emotions. She suppressed a squeal. But then she Stormpaw's eyes. They were filled with... what was it? Affection? Sadness? Loss, maybe? It was impossible to decipher. She finally came to the conclusion that it was nothing.

"Why should he be?" she asked, trying to act confused. Hurt burned in Stormpaw's blue eyes, before they went expressionless again.

"I don't know." he said, turning away. Redpaw gulped. She began to feel sick. "What was it you wanted to say anyway?" Stormpaw asked, not looking at her.

Redpaw brushed her thoughts away. "Well, when I was asleep last night. It was only Shadow who visited me, and she was acting strange. You know how I asked you to teach me how to use my power? Well, I asked her too." she said sheepishly. Stormpaw didn't comment. "Well, when I did, she said she wouldn't, and I pressed her, and then she got all mad, and gave me this scratch." she said, holding out her leg for him to examine. Stormpaw studied her, and his gaze hardened.

"Your lying." he accused. "You have to be?" Redpaw was bewildered.

"Wha-what do you mean, I'm lying?" she asked, scowling. How dare he not believe her? "Why would I tell a lie?" Stormpaw swallowed.

"Because Shadow giving you that scratch is impossible."

Dustypaw POV

Dustypaw still sat the tree. Stupid Stormpaw! He didn't know that he was still there. Dustypaw recalled his last dream with a smile of satisfaction:

"Nightfall! I was listening to Stormpaw and Redpaw again, and they were talking about these things they called the "First Warriors"." he reported. "Redpaw said, 'The First Warriors visited me last night, and I kept hinting about how powerful I am.' Do you know what the "First Warriors" are?" he asked curiously.

The beautiful black she-cat smiled deviously. "I do know, as a matter of fact, Dustypaw!" she had said delightedly. "Dustypaw, you just gave me a piece of information that could make a big difference."

Dustypaw had shivered in pleasure as the the she-cat ran her dark black tail across his spine. "You're welcome, Nightfall. But, what does it mean?"

Nightfall had thought for a moment, and then curled around the him. "Why, the First Warriors were Shadow, Thunder, River, Wind, and Star. And you know, me and Shadow are rather close. If I know that Shadow sees Redpaw frequently, then this little game is going to get a lot more interesting."

He hadn't known what she had meant before, but now it was starting to make sense. Nightfall has definitely done something to Shadow, and it was affecting Redpaw.

Dustypaw wondered if what he was doing was right. Maybe, in the end Redpaw would be his. But, maybe Nightfall was looking to destroy Redpaw.

"She doesn't deserve you!" Nightfall had said. "You must have your revenge!"

Dustypaw purred ever so quietly. Nightfall was right. Redpaw had chosen Stormpaw over him, and he had to teach her that he wasn't going to give up that easily. Redpaw, if you could go back... he wondered. Would you have been with me instead?