OK Chapter 11! This is chapter you don't want to miss! Why? Because I said so! And I plan on throwing things at Sootpaw. Literally or figuratively? Read and find out. AND IF YOU ARE A FUTURE PERSON READING THIS STORY AFTER I FINISH IT, PLEASE REVIEW! JUST BECAUSE I STOPPED UPDATING DOES NOT MEAN I STOPPED CARING! Speaking of which , I never did my thank yous for last chapter so I will just be putting them in this chapter! Yeah!

Thank you for reviewing: bullshitsalad, Silverpelt9 (x2), albinoduckling, Silverwind1313(x2), TailseamLovah,

I don't own warriors

Chapter 11

Moonlight gleamed on Sootpaw's face and he soaked it in. As they crossed the tree bridge he noticed Sageheart behind the, stiffen a bit before moving on. He waved it off as he laughed again with Sunpaw and Rootpaw, as they watched Treepaw unsteadily walk from end to end. The laughter was cut short as Graypelt walked up,
"Don't laugh at him he's trying his best!" The senior warrior meowed gruffly.

"No Graypelt, it- it's ok, they can laugh." Treepaw spoke softly to calm the angered warrior.

"Sorry." Sunpaw's voice dripped with sarcasm as she put on a quick fake smile before turning around and strutting away. Worry flashed though Sootpaw and he gently dipped his head to the older warrior to apologize for his friend then sprinted to catch up.

"You really 'ought to watch your tongue sometimes, Sunpaw. He is your mentor, show respect." The golden she-cat whipped her head around and snapped at her best friend.

"He doesn't show me much respect! it's to return what you don't get!" The soft gray tabby shrunk down and walked quietly beside his friend, who was now angrily lashing her tail. As the walked into the clearing, her anger seemed to be left behind and the two ShadowClan cats bolted off into a group of apprentices. Among them were Kestrelpaw and Ashpaw, some RiverClan friends. Or at least as friendly as you could get with another Clan. Sootpaw also recognized Brightpaw and Stormypaw of WindClan, and Shrewpaw from ThunderClan. They were all happily chatting about nonsense, from everything to nothing. The current topic, cute kit stunts.

"You should have seen Butterflykit!" Brightpaw laughed. "She fit so well into that rabbit skin! Smoothpaw really believed that a rabbit's ghost was out get him! It was the absolute best!" Amused purrs and laughter traveled around and Ashpaw began to speak.

"Pinekit and Dawnkit almost walked right out with a hunting patrol! When Adderpelt asked what they were doing they merely said they were on patrol! Like it was normal for four moon kits to be going fishing with warriors!" Even a bossy old fur ball like Adderpelt could't help laughing!"

"What are you all talking about?" Cherryfoot, Adderpelt's mate, asked.

"Kits."

"Rabbits."

"Dogs."

"Kits in rabbit pelts chasing dogs?" the gray tabby RiverClan warrior's whiskers were twitching with amusement,

"Nice try 'paws! But I heard everything. Ashpaw, I expected more from you, respect your senior warriors! No matter how old or bossy the fur ball!" Sootpaw tried to shoot Sunpaw a 'I-told-you-so' look but her yes refused to meet his. Meanwhile the apprentices were laughing at Cherryfoot's lighthearted joke. Shrewpaw opened his jaws to talk but was cut off as Rosestar called out,

"Beneath the skies of StarClan, I call this Gathering to a start!"

*****************************NEXT*DAY*AFTER*DUSK** ***************************

Sootpaw yawned. It's had been a good day, they had had a hunting assessment. The grey-eyed tabby was still glowing from the praise Amberflame had given him. His mentor was so proud! Sunpaw had even managed squeeze a praise from stuffy old Graypelt! Even with less praise than she deserved, the golden apprentice seemed in the better mood than she had been in the last half-moon! He wondered what brought her sudden change of heart. Well whatever it was he thanked StarClan for it. His bubbly best friend was back!

"I heard you did well on your assessment! Congratulations!" Silvertree mewed as Sootpaw passed. He nodded his thanks, to tired for spoken words. A glance at the fresh-kill pile sent Sootpaw's stomach in a frenzy. Apparently a day of hunting makes you hungry! His stone-like paws turned to feathers as he trotted to the center of camp. A plump squirrel seemed to be calling his name, so Sootpaw picked it up and carried it over to where Swooppaw and Rootpaw were nibbling on a feathery finch.

"'i Mootraw!" Rootpaw mumbled.

"Sootpaw? Did you hear that? I think it's trying to communicate!" Swooppaw laughed and Rootpaw smiled through a mouthful of finch, and flicked her tail dismissively.

"Hi Swooppaw, Rootpaw." The ginger she-cat sat up a little as the gray tabby addressed her, swatting a feather off of her muzzle. She retired her greeting.

"Hi, Sootpaw how are you?" Sootpaw let out an amused purr and laid down next to his friends with his meal and began to eat. The each bit was delectable and Sootpaw savored every morsel.

"Good, and I assume the same for you?"

"Mostly, Swooppaw was just telling me about her assessment." Swooppaw finished off the bird and sat up licking the scraps for her face.

"I caught two toads, a squirrel, and two mice!" She reported smugly, "Oh! And a starling." Sootpaw took another big bite of squirrel before replying.

"I caught a mouse, frog, squirrel, lizard and a sparrow. Gotta have little variety!" he chuckled rambling off his list.

"Whatever! I caught more than you and that's what matters!" The dark brown tabby gloated in a sing-song voice. The reddish-brown she-cat next to her pouted.

"I can't wait for my assessment!" She complained and gazed out the tunnel into pine covered land beyond. Swooppaw snorted.

"You can't wait to wake up in the morning, go on patrol or whatever other apprentice duties you have to complete, start hunting at sunhigh, in the heat with almost no shadows to hide in, tramp all over the territory while you hunt, grab as much fresh-kill as you can then go back to camp, find your mentor, find out well you did, and then head back in the territory and tramp all over it again to collect your prey and bring it back here?"

"Yes." Sootpaw couldn't help but laugh at Rootpaw's blunt answer and Swooppaw's grim description of the day's assessment. 'Was it really that bad?' he though as he processed the day's events. It had been that bad! He had just been in too good of spirits to notice. While deep in thought Sootpaw had finished his squirrel, he stretched a little bit and closed his eyes basking the warm last rays of the sun. He listened to soothing sounds of his friends chattering away, and kits playing, senior warriors sharing tongues and the other sounds of camp. He felt the warm evening breeze ruffle his fur and the scents of his friends, his Clan, his forest were all around him... it was perfect.

****************************after*moonrise******** *******************

"Sootpaw!" A familiar red-brown paw stabbed his side. "Sootpaw!" A dark brown one joined in. "Sootpaw!" two familiar voices blended together. "Sootpaw, for the love of mice get up lazy bones!" The apprentices pulled a trump card as Sunpaw bounded over pushed Sootpaw onto his side. He blinked his sleepy gray eyes open.

"Whaaaaaaaaa?" Rootpaw snorted, Sunpaw laughed and Swoopaw said nothing, just a light-hearted gleam flickered in her yellow eyes.

"Soooootpaaaaaaw!" Sunpaw complained again, "Can you come on walk with me? I don't wanna go aloooone!" The gray apprentice rolled his eyes and shuffled up to his paws.

"Yeah, yeah I'm coming. You are so lucky your my best friend..." The golden she-cat bounced around.

"I know!" Swooppaw and Rootpaw chuckled again before retreating back to the den, but Sootpaw didn't miss the dark look in Swooppaw's eye as the two walked away.

In the front of camp as they were about to leave they passed Birdcall returning from his own evening stroll. The golden-brown tom called out to the apprentices.

"Hey Sootpaw, when you get back, you might want to sleep in your den... we're not WindClan." He smiled and nodded for the young warrior but a scowl covered his face as they entered to dark pine forest. Their paws step made viturally no sound as they padded along the carpet of needles.

"Does everyone know that I accidentally crashed outside of the den?" Sootpaw finally asked after they walked a short distance.

"Yup." His best friend replied popping the P.

"Great..." The ShadowClan apprentice groaned, "You won't let me live this down, will you?"

"Nope." she popped the P again.

"Arrrrggggg..." The blue eyed she-cat laughed. As she did the breeze picked up ruffling their fur, and carrying the warm, sharp scent of home around them. They walked far in silence, until they were at the edge of the forest. The soothing sound of the water lapping the shore filled the air and the moonlight on the water reflected up and turned everything nearby silver. Including Sunpaw, her bright fur looked pale in the pale wash of the moon. Standing on the pine carpet Sunpaw averted her gaze away from the lake and o her best friend. the gray apprentice faced her, saddness rimmed her icey eyes and she took in a deep breath and let it out slowly eyes closed. Her voice shook as she began to talk.

"Sootpaw... I'm leaving." He felt as if claws were raking down his side, and through his heart.

"WHAT!?" There was nothing but sincerity in the golden cat's eyes.

"I'm going to join RiverClan, I tried Sootpaw, I really tried but, I can't take it here."

"WHAT!?" The gray tom repeated, "NO! Sunpaw don't leave me!" The she-cat chuckled.

"Yes. I'll have a better life there, it's been decided."

"But- but what about me and Swooppaw?" Sunpaw affectionately nudged the tabby.

"What about you? I won't forget my favorite two furballs!"

"But who will help me prank Barkpaw and Treepaw, and go hunting with me, and tell me sstories about starry foxes out to get me so that I cant sleep at now? And- and." Sunpaw put her slim tail in Sootpaw's mouth.

"No buts, you sound like Twigpaw when questioned. You can't change my mind. I already spoke to Rainstar, he's okay with it. I'm gonna be a RiverClan cat." The gray apprentice began to hyperventilate, gray eyes glazing over with sadness, fear and shock.

"Can't you just get a new mentor? I mean Graypelt is your only problem!"

"Wouldn't you want to escape your problem if you had to work with it from dawn to dusk?"

"Well yeah... but that's not the point! The point is that you want to leave me and I won't allow it!" The she-cat gave a soft purr.

"I tried to get a new mentor, but Rainstar wouldn't allow it. Honestly! He acts like Shadowstar herself mentors me!" Bitterness crept into her voice, before softening again. Sootpaw ran out of words, all he could do was stand and stare in horror. "I'm sorry Sootpaw. It's for the best, I leave at moonhigh..." Pain began to seep into her expressive blue eyes.

"I'm sorry too." He choked out. The painful prickle of tears began to flood him, Sootpaw blinked them. He dared to glance at the night sky, the moon had risen to it's peak.

"I'm sorry." She murmured and nuzzled Sootpaw affectionately and licked gentley between his ears. "Goodbye Sootpaw..." Sunpaw whispered one last time before looking deep into his gray eyes one last time and disappeared into the night.

Sorry it took so long to update.. But I did! I hope you liked this chapter, it ended up really long... but I never complain about long chapters. PLEASE REVIEW AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK! PLEASE! bye now! :D

Dream big & Write on

-Skystar