Through the Lion's Eyes
Ok this chapter we will skip to gathering night where Shadow clan will be comforted and then we will leap into leaf bare. And which we will have kits, get sick warriors and I may throw in a death or two. And I got a surprise scene with Graycloud and Firetail…too lazy to make a whole chapter for them
Me: Feeling creative
Fogpaw: This is good
Me: Well I don't own warriors
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
Dreams
//Last time Thunder clan is getting over the attack. Lionpaw are getting close to Snowpaw and Silverpaw. Surprise, Stoneclaw and Rosethorn are mates now and are expecting kits. And big surprise Graycloud returns with Firetail and meet with Stoneclaw where they exchange information.//
Many sunrises later the gathering arrived and Crowstar was headed to the highledge.
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join under high ledge for a clan meeting" his voice rung through the camp.
All cats gathered around looking up at the leader to see who was going to the gathering.
"Now before I let everyone know who is going to the gathering tonight we need to make clear we say nothing about the attack to any cat from the other clans. Do not get under Shadow clan's fur, we don't want to upset Star clan" he instructed.
"They should get their fur clawed off for attacking Thunder clan at such random. Cowards, even going as low as attacking in the dark" hissed out Mudshadow and the clan murmured in agreement.
"Silence Mudshadow, you will not go to this gathering, you can't control yourself" Crowstar meowed to his son.
The black and brown tom hissed but didn't say anything else.
"Now remember, do not mention it to anyone. I will bring it up during the gathering. And now to announce the cats going tonight," he began.
Lionpaw's pelt prickle he hoped he can go. He wanted to talk to Maplepaw for some reason. 'I do want to ask why she didn't attack me…but she's a shadow clan cat…I probably can't go near her without a problem'
"The cats going tonight will be Blazeclaw, Skypool, Oakpaw, Lightfeather, Hawkstorm, Shimmerpelt, Snowpaw, Nightpaw, Lionpaw, Talonlclaw and Shadowflame, you all will come to the gathering tonight, everyone else. Watch over camp in case Shadow clan should try a secret attack" Crowstar leaped off high ledge.
Lionpaw had a feeling he chose cats that were level headed to represent Thunder clan tonight. He knew most of the cats here would listen to his orders and wouldn't star a fight. 'Smart choice Crowstar' he thought.
He walked and then felt warm fur brush his pelt and turned to Snowpaw "Hey, glad you are going to the gathering with me" he purred as they walked together.
"Hey you two, this is my first gathering as a warrior" Talonclaw meowed falling into step with them.
Lionpaw turned to his friend and nods his head "I'm sure Crowstar will mention it" Lionpaw meowed.
"I wonder when we will be made warriors" Nightpaw mewed staring into the sky and nearly bumped into the blind tom.
"Watch it will you, I'm the one that's blind you know" Lionpaw growled with a hint of tease which earned him a cuff on the ear by the black she-cat.
"Well, we are all the same age…and well…we all can't be apprenticed at once…not until we get more kits that are near the apprentice age" Snowpaw meowed after a moment thought.
Nightpaw's golden eyes were wide at realization "You are right…so…out of you, Lionpaw, Silverpaw and myself, maybe half of us will actually be warriors at once…" Nightpaw meowed.
Lionpaw just sighed "Well, I'm blind; I have a lot more work than the rest of you. So I'll be dead last to be a warrior" he meowed not showing any hint of hostility. He knew this a long time ago.
He felt sympathy roll off of everyone and the fur on the back of his neck bristled 'so much for calm and collected' he scolded himself but said no more about it.
The clan then arrived at the gathering night and Lionpaw tried to scent for his friend from Shadow clan.
Ambergaze looked with shock as she saw a ginger apprentice walking. She instantly thought of Firetail but shook her head. 'That must have been Graycloud's other kit, oh Firetail…if only you could have seen your own kits…'
"There you are Lionpaw" meowed Maplepaw. The tortoiseshell and white apprentice walked up to Lionpaw.
Lionpaw purrs with delight despite the tingling feeling in his fur, despite her clan attacking his many sunrises ago.
"Hey...listen Maplepaw…how come you didn't attack me...I'm an easy target" he meowed calmly looking to where he knew was Maplepaw's face.
He felt her guilt and then warmth washed over him.
"Lionpaw… I couldn't attack you…something wouldn't let me, I was ready to fight for my clan…but when I ran into you… I betrayed myself, my clan, because I let you go" Maplepaw meowed softly.
"Lionpaw! Maplepaw!" yowled a voice and the smell of wind clan hit the blind tom.
"Rabbitpaw, hi there" he meowed.
"I'm not Rabbitpaw, I'm Rabbittail now" meowed the cream she-cat.
"I can see why, you have a bushy tail like a rabbit" Fogpaw meowed walking over in time to catch the new warrior's statement.
Soon as River clan showed up the apprentices were interrupted by a yowl by one of the leaders.
"We will begin the gathering" meowed Lakestar, the moonlight giving him a shimmering glow to his silvery blue pelt.
"I will go first, I will say River clan is doing ok considering its deep into the leaf fall. We have some new kits, my mate, Mistystream, gave birth to two kits, Frostkit and Sparklekit." He meows.
The clans give cheer for the new kits. Lakestar steps back to allow Stormstar from wind clan step up.
"I'm not going to pretend everything is ok, but Wind clan isn't doing so great, our prey are in hiding but we are doing the best we can" he meowed.
Lionpaw could tell the leader didn't want to seem too weak to the other clans.
"Sure, he's so very skinny, lots of the cats from Wind clan are" Snowpaw hissed in his ear. Lionpaw just nods slightly.
"We would also like to announce a new warrior has joined our ranks, Rabbittail is now a warrior" Stormstar adds.
Everyone chants for Rabbittail who holds her head up high with pride. The Wind clan leader then allows Crowstar to go next.
"I will say Thunder clan is doing well, we are losing prey as well but we are doing fine. We also have a new warrior as, Talonclaw" he meows.
The leader stops as the clan chant out Talonclaw's name, he went to a good share of gatherings as an apprentice and was very popular.
"Now, I have a much more serious matter, many sun rises ago, Shadow clan attacked us in the middle of the night. Care to explain that Coldstar" meowed Coldstar.
Shocked looks and murmurs came from River clan and Wind clan. But Shadow clan hissed and spat at Thunder clan. Lionpaw could feel tension hang in the air and was glad Crowstar picked cool level headed cats for this gathering.
Nightpaw hissed and glared at the Shadow clan cats but didn't dare do anything to shame her clan or cause the clouds to cover the moon.
"I don't have to explain myself to you Crowstar" hissed Coldstar and folds his tail over his paws as if he could care less he attacked a clan.
"Well Coldstar, we will be checking our borders. If we catch so much as one Shadow clan cat on our land I give my clan full permission to chase you out. I will not allow your cowardly stunts to continue" Crowstar glares coldly.
"So will River clan" Lakestar meows fearing his own clan could be attacked by Shadow clan.
"Cowards" a cat yowled.
"Attacking a clan in the dead of the night" hissed another.
A Shadow clan cat attacks a River clan cat who called them cowards. Yowling filled the air and gasps and murmurs filled the clearing.
"Stop at once, Mudfur!" Lakestar hissed.
The brown tom leaps away from the Shadow clan warrior. The clouds covered the sky at once signaling the anger of Star clan.
"This gathering is over, Thunder clan move out" Crowstar hissed and started to move out.
Soon leaf bare approached. One morning Lionpaw awoken to see snow falling onto the ground as he stepped out of the apprentice den.
"Lionpaw, I see you are up, join me and Shadowflame" it was none other than Crowstar himself. This surprised Lionpaw, he never expected this. But then again he did wake up a bit earlier than normal.
"Sure thing Crowstar" Lionpaw meowed and follows the two brothers out of camp. He was determined to show he can function as well as any cat.
"So how are you doing in your training?" asked Shadowflame as he walked beside the apprentice.
Lionpaw turned towards Shadowflame "Good, Lightfeather said I'm doing a great job" Lionpaw answered.
"That's good, keep up the work. Now can you smell anything?" Shadowflame meowed expectedly.
Lionpaw scented the forest and caught scent of a vole and heard tiny steps in the snow and turned to the direction and dropped into the hunter's crouch. He felt the eyes of Shadowflame and Crowstar on him. He wanted to catch this vole to impress them or he would never let it down.
He moved slowly, careful not to make too much noise in the snow soon it was over when Lionpaw jumped out to capture the vole, biting its neck to kill it.
"Good, now we need to patrol Shadow clan, just in case" Crowstar meowed and heads to the Shadow clan border.
"Hmm…they haven't marked their borders recently…" Lionpaw meowed noticing the faint scent of Shadow clan.
"We better mark our border so they won't get any ideas" Shadowflame meowed.
Crowstar nods in agreement and the tom's mark along the border.
"Well let's head on back" Crowstar instructed.
Lionpaw was started to get cold himself but would rather eat fox dung than admit that to any of them.
When they arrived back they managed to catch squirrel to add to the fresh kill pile. Lionpaw placed his catch in the pile and heads back into the apprentice den
"Lionpaw is something…I wish Greycloud could see him" Shadowflame murmured to his brother as the apprentice walked away.
"He is, to be blind, but he won't be a warrior though, we can't risk him being a thorn in Thunder clan's side" Crowstar murmured.
Shadowflame opened his mouth but then closed it, he turned to the apprentice. He thought Lionpaw would make a great warrior; he would have to train harder than the others.
"Lionpaw, Lionpaw wake up, you going to train with me and Stripefur" meowed Silverpaw.
The blind tom managed to fall back asleep after going on a patrol with Shadowflame and Crowstar.
"Ok, I'm up" Lionpaw got up stretched again.
The apprentices walked outside to see most of the clan up and moving about.
"Ok, I want Frostfur, Talonclaw, and Brambleleaf take your apprentice and patrol near Shadow clan border, we can't be too careful with them lately" it was the gruff meowed of Blazeclaw.
Snowpaw was eager to do something other than change bedding and went up to join the patrol. She saw Lionpaw and Silverpaw leave with their mentors and flicks her tail in greeting.
Silverpaw took notice and nods her head as she walked out of camp.
"Ok you two, we will start with battle training to see how you fair against each other. Used everything you learned" Stripefur meowed.
Lionpaw looked determined, he would either beat Silverpaw or come pretty close to it, he wouldn't lose pitifully because he was blind. 'I can't lose, not badly, or else it will just prove to Crowstar that I'm not fit to be a warrior'
"Remember claws sheathed, ready?" Stripefur meowed as the apprentices got into position.
"Go" Lightfeather meowed.
Silverpaw charged at Lionpaw.
Lionpaw heard her crunching in the snow and stayed still, when she got close enough he dodged to the side and then leaped and tackled into her flanks.
Silverpaw hissed playfully as they fell in the snow. She swipes a paw that struck his face, hed her claws been out and she was serious, it would have left a train of claw marks on his face.
Lionpaw hisses and leaps off of Silverpaw before she could get into position to kick him. He then could hear her come from another direction and he moves to attack but his paw got caught in some deep snow and he sunk in a little.
Silverpaw saw this and leaped to pin him down, she made a move to place her teeth gently around his neck to signal the death blow. But was suddenly kicked off and hissed feeling stupid to remember the opponenet can kick you off if you are on top.
Lionpaw scrambled to his paws, his fur covered in snow but only focused on Silverpaw. Heard a series of crunching snow but it was coming from all sides and this confused him. He hissed and lashed his paws out in an attempt to hit her but always brushed against her fur.
Silverpaw ran around Lionpaw in circles and saw how confused he looked. And she got behind him and then leaped to pin him on his belly and then gently grabbed his neck with her teeth.
"Battle over, Silverpaw wins" Stripefur meowed.
Lionpaw sat in the snow, defeated and covered in snow. He didn't move even after feeling the heat from the jaws that held him move from his neck and the weight lift from his back. He didn't feel the cold at that moment.
"Lionpaw, you okay?" Lightfeather asked worried that her apprentice was injured.
It was then that Lionpaw shifted his head to look at his mentor"I'm fine" he gets to his paws and shakes his pelt, bits of clumped snow flew off of him.
"Great job Lionpaw, you made me work for it" Silverpaw shakes her fur off too.
"Yes, not bad for…" Stripefur caught himself but was a bit late.
"Not bad for a blind cat right?" hissed Lionpaw his head snapped to where he heard Stripefur comment.
"Lionpaw relax" Lightfeather meowed calmly.
The rage was growing more quickly still ashamed about the battle and just glared at nothing in particular.
"Look you did really great" Lightfeather encouraged.
"Not good enough, if this were a real battle I would have been dead" Lionpaw growled and stormed off into the forest.
Back at camp Nightpaw sat with Brownflower, her mother's belly is bulging more but not nearly as big as Rosethorn's belly.
"When are they coming?" Nightpaw asked.
The brown queen took a moment to think "Well, I feel the kits moving inside, so not much longer" Brownflower purred and licks Nightpaw over the ear.
"Looks like we may have our kits around the same time, maybe they'll learn to play together" Rosethorn purred.
"I'm sure they will, and are you nervous, this is your first litter?" Brownflower asked.
As the queens talked Nightpaw looked to see Lionpaw, walk into camp and she gets up to talk to him seeing as both Talonclaw and Snowpaw was still gone.
"Hey Lionpaw" Nightpaw meowed
"Oh, hey Nightpaw" Lionpaw turns her way and sits.
"You got frost and ice clumps all in your fur" Nightpaw meowed.
"Ugh I thought I shook it all off, oh well, like you don't have snow on your fur" Lionpaw meowed.
"I don't, I haven't been out training yet, you're the only other apprentice in here" Nightpaw meowed.
"Oh ok well I'm starving let's eat something" Lionpaw meowed
"This pile is low, make yourselves useful and try to hunt" it was Mudshadow.
Lionpaw narrowed his eyes but Nightpaw's were wide in admiration and got to her paws.
"Of course, come on Lionpaw" Nightpaw mewed and headed for the entrance.
Lionpaw and Nightpaw walked through the forest. It was then Nightpaw took notice of Lionpaw, he suddenly looked sad to her, or perhaps bothered by something.
"Lionpaw, why the angry looking face" Nightpaw mewed.
The blind tom sighed and kept looking at the ground "I lost to Silverpaw on a practice battle" he replied.
"So what, everyone loses, even me, and I'm the leader's kit…I get mad because I wan't to be a good warrior, just like Crowstar, even be as good as Mudshadow, everyone respects him" Nightpaw meowed and placed the tip of his tail on the tom's flank.
"But you can see everything is harder for me… I have to work twice as hard if I can prove to your father I can be a warrior…and ugh I let her confuse me…I'm still too slow… I need to train more" Lionpaw meowed gruffly, still irritated.
Nightpaw understood and pressed against Lionpaw "It's okay, I know you will make a great warrior" Nightpaw meowed.
Lionpaw allowed the warmth of her flank and sympathy wash through him but he paused as he heard the flutter of wings.
Nightpaw returned from her gentle moment and dropped into a hunter's crouch. A few pawsteps and a leap later Nightpaw caught a bird.
"Yes, first catch. And if it helps Lionpaw we can train together. We both have to prove ourselves in a way, so we have a reason to help each other. We can do secret training sessions" Nightpaw meowed.
Lionpaw nods "Sure, I would like the extra help" Lionpaw meowed
Back in a abandoned barn a Long haired she-cat was curled up on a pile of hay. Her mate was beside her, grooming her fur gently.
"Firetail, how you think our kit's are doing?" asked the grey she-cat.
"It being leaf- bare they have to work hard for food…but they are strong" Firetail meowed.
"So the winter makes it hard to find food, I feel bad for them" It was Sky, the snow white she-cat licked her paws gently.
"They are clan cats, being in the wild has its perks, and the harsh weather isn't one of them" Max meowed. The big black tom walked in from the outside and shook his fur clear of the snow.
"You came back from visiting your clan friends…what happened?" Max asked as he approached, staring at Graycloud.
"Well we just found out information about our kits, how well they are doing in the clan. I found out my brother has a mate now, and they will be having kits soon" Greycloud meowed.
"Kits, so cute I wish I can have kits" Sky murmured.
"You are pretty Sky, you will surly find a mate" Firetail meowed.
This made the white she-cat burn with embarrassment. "Thanks Firetail one of these days I will" Sky meowed and heads out of the barn.
"Firetail… I think" Max begin keeping an eye on the she-cats retreating form.
"I will always love Graycloud, she won't get in between that" Firetail meowed intertwines his tail with her's as if to prove a point.
Since Graycloud came Sky has been trying to get Firetail's attention and Max, ever so friendly, wanted to make sure Firetail had to be careful. Even he noticed the gray she-cat became tense when Sky was near Firetail.
Graycloud got to her paws "We will see then, well I better go for a walk before things get too cold outside" Graycloud meowed clearly irritated with her mate and heads out of the barn. Only thing this she-cat was worried about was Firetail settling it between Sky or she will.
The end of the day came and everyone was going into their dens. Lionpaw walks into the apprentice den, yawning from a long day's work and curls in his nest. He feels warm fur press against him and turns to that side.
"Hello Snowpaw, you been busy" Lionpaw meowed and relaxes.
"Yea, Brambleleaf had me hunting all day, times like this I'm glad to have a white pelt, it blends in with the snow" Snowpaw meowed.
Nightpaw and Silverpaw entered as well and the black she-cat got in the nest on the other side of Lionpaw and Silverpaw was next to Nightpaw To keep warm the apprentices huddled for warmth.
"Good night everyone" Silverpaw meowed and they all fell asleep.
Later that night Lionpaw awoken to a sharp poke "Come on Lionpaw, time to do secret training" Nightpaw hissed silently.
Lionpaw gets up and moves carefully around Snowpaw and follows Nightpaw into the cold night air and shivers instantly. 'I wonder if this was a smart idea, it's too cold to be training…' An image flashed in his mind the moonlight casted a glow on Nightpaw, outlining her frame and intensifying the golden glow of her eyes which held determination.
Nightpaw was cold herself but really wanted to train so she ignored the cold as she and Lionpaw stepped out into the forest and when she was sure it would be far enough away to avoid anyone hearing them she stops.
"Ok Lionpaw, we can train here all we want" Nightpaw meowed.
"I'm ready, usual rules right?" he asked
"Of course, let's begin" she meowed and soon she charged towards Lionpaw.
Lionpaw muscles tensed and struck his paw out and swipes her after dodging her and soon the fight begins. They tumbled into the snow hitting and hissing, trying to pin the other down. By the time they were finished they each won a round.
"I'm tired, let's get the snow off and head back" Nightpaw meowed and starts licking Lionpaw first.
He felt tired from the battle and the licks from Nightpaw made him feel warmer as the snow to melt off and purr softly. When she was done she licked off what she could and shook off the rest. The two apprentices head back to camp, cold and slightly damp from the wet snow and their grooming.
By the time they arrived the chilly air dried them off but made them very cold. They got back into the apprentice den and curled up tightly and went to sleep.
There was a piercing yowl the next morning that made Lionpaw jump awake. Beside him was Snowpaw but he could no longer smell Nightpaw and Silverpaw.
"We better check it out" Snowpaw meowed and walked out with Lionpaw who instantly got onto his paws.
Outside cats were gathered and were peering at the nursery. Skypool was walking in the nursery with Oakpaw and an anxious Crowstar waited nearby. Snowpaw put the pieces together
"Brownflower will be having her kits"
"That's great, Nightpaw was very excited about it" he meowed. He took this chance to grab some fresh kill while everyone was occupied and quickly ate it. It was tough from being in the cold but still good.
He felt sadness that almost hurt his chest and remembered his mentor. Lightfeather was still in love with Crowstar, so to see him have more kits in the clan hurts her. 'I wonder if this is how she felt when Oakpaw and Nightpaw was born' as he pondered this thought he didn't realize she was next to him.
"Come on, I saw you eat, might as well try and catch warmer prey for the elders" Lightfeather meowed. He noticed her voice wasn't as soft as it normally was and only sighed as he follows her out.
Back in the nursery Oakpaw watched his mentor closely; this would be the first time assisting with the kitting process. He was excited because it would be his mother.
"Okay Oakpaw get ready" Skypool meowed calmly. She already knew Brownflower would only have one kit this time judging by her belly but still wanted Oakpaw to watch as one day he will be doing this alone.
Pain rippled through the queen though she was all too familiar with this feeling. She yowled as she felt the kit start to come.
"It's here Brownflower, give a good push and it should be out" Skypool murmured calmly.
Brownflower's claws scraped against her bedding and hisses with pain and in no time a light brown tabby was born.
Oakpaw was amazed as he stared at the little bundle of wet fur. It was tiny and couldn't believe that was how he and Nightpaw used to look like but snapped out of it as he watched as Skypool licks the kit clean and rubs its paws on the kit to warm it up and to get it to breathe. The kit starts to squeal and flail its tiny paws.
"Congratulations, it's a tom" Skypool meowed and nudged the kit to Brownflower's belly.
"Eat this to make sure you have enough milk" Oakpaw instructed.
The queen purrs and licks Oakpaw's ear "Thank you, my kit" she meows and eats the herb and turns to Skypool "Would you mind telling Crowstar not to come in yet, this kit was bigger than Oakpaw or Nightpaw, it really tired me out"
Skypool nods at Brownflower's request and leaves the nursery along with Oakpaw. This made Brownflower sigh as she curled around her kit to keep him warm and allow him to nurse.
"Wow, that's kitting…" Rosethorn meowed further in the nursery looking nervous.
"Don't worry, once it's over it's worth the pain" Brownflower meowed.
"I'll let you sleep now, I think I'll step out for a bit" Rosethorn meowed and stepped out into the chilly air.
Lionpaw had just caught a thrush, the blood was warm and took all he had not to bite down on his catch and devour it.
"Lionpaw…are you okay?" Lightfeather asked after staring at her apprentice for a long time as they walked in search of more prey.
Lionpaw looked confused and remembered yesterday "Yea, I'm fine…sorry if I acted like a kit…I'm not mad about losing…it's just… I feel like I can never do enough...I don't seem to get better" Lionpaw meowed and was surprised to feel a warm tongue flick across his ear.
"Lionpaw, you will get better, sure you are blind, but you can't let it stop you…you knew the moment you begged Crowstar for apprenticeship it would be hard. You will lose battles, but you must learn from them" Lightfeather meowed.
Lionpaw just nods and turns to Lightfeather "What about you…are you okay?' he asked without thinking and wished he kept quiet.
"Am I ok? Of course why wouldn't I be?" she asked trying to sound convincing 'No, I'm not okay, the tom I love is having more kits… I wish it was me...'
"Oh, I just…feel that…something isn't right with you...like you aren't happy" Lionpaw meows hoping he told enough that didn't give away anything.
"Yes, I'm fine...sometimes… when someone is having kits, it makes me…want kits of my own" Lightfeather meowed. Lionpaw could feel that was truly one of her desires.
"Find a nice tom, I'm sure you are a beautiful she-cat, any tom who can see could see you are a nice cat" he meowed and felt another warm flick go across his ear and a purr.
"That's very sweet, right now, you're the closest thing I got to a kit" she meowed
The two went hunting and had returned with a few mice and the thrush Lionpaw had caught and placed it on the freshkill pile.
"Quickly bring the thrush and the mouse to the elders" Lightfeather meowed.
Lionpaw didn't complain and brought the relatively warm prey to the elders who were quite thankful, all accept Oneeye who was complaining about the thrush being all but feathers. But Windpelt and Copperfur decided to just trade the mouse for his thrush.
Soon it was time to share tongues, Crowstar went inside the nursery, he was cold and warn out from taking on some patrols himself to ensure the clan gets fed.
"Brownflower" he murmured and licks his mate gently.
"I've been waiting, what should we call our kit?" she asked looking into the golden eyes she loved so much. She hoped that his tom would also have those golden eyes that all her kits accap Oakpaw has.
"He's big and very healthy Brownflower" he looked at the tabby kit who seemed to have a lot of different shades of brown in his fur which was very prickly, even more so then his other kits.
"His pelt, it reminds me of the pine needles in the forest, what about Pinekit?" he asked Brownflower.
His mate purred and licks the little brown tom "I like that idea, his name will be Pinekit" she meowed.
"You gave me four healthy kits, I couldn't have asked for a better mate" he meowed softly.
"Sorry Rosethorn, you look very tired, you should rest, your kits should come any day now." He told her before leaving the den.
He saw Lightfeather go the fresh kill pile and he froze, he couldn't help but remember moons ago she told him she loved him. It has been awkward being around her but he saw how the sun set on the ginger parts of her fur, like sparks of fire.
Her blue eyes lit up as she saw the leader but calmed down enough to dip her head "Would you like to share this vole with me?" she asked.
"Sure Lightfeather" the leader walks with his old apprentice and shares the vole, but felt like he should let his clan eat before he even touch a piece of fresh kill.
The sun went down and the clan settled in for the night.
A sunrise later the Rosethorn was ready to have her kits Skypool and Oakpaw was ready. Being a new mother Rosethorn was in pain and very uncomfortable.
"Relax Rosethorn, this is a whole new battle and you can win it, the more stressed you are the more pain you will have" Skypool instructed.
The scarlet she-cat tried to calm down and hissed with pain as her belly rippled.
"It's the first kit" Skypool meowed.
A dark ginger kit was born and remembering what happened yesterday Oakpaw was there to lick the kit clean and it started to squeal.
"Ah, a she-kit, Oakpaw bring her to Rosethorn's belly" Skypool instructed. Oakpaw nods and gently nudges the kit to her belly.
More pain rippled through her belly but the queen was already used to it so it didn't hurt as much and soon a grey kit was born. Skypool licks the kit and pushes him gently towards Rosethorn.
"It's a tom, great job Rosethorn, first time queens always have complications. Now eat this borage to make sure you produce enough milk. Oakpaw give some to Brownflower, she has one kit but in leaf bare she needs all the strength she can get" she meows.
"Thank you Skypool, and yes you did a great job with your first kitting Rosethorn, when I had Mudshadow it was plenty of complications. That was a fairly smooth kitting. Now rest up, I'm sure Stoneclaw is anxious to get in to see you" Brownflower meowed.
A little while after Skypool and Oakpaw left Stoneclaw came in carrying two warm pieces of fresh kill. "Here Brownflower, Crowstar told me I should give you this on my way here" he meowed giving the queen the squirrel.
"Thank you" she purrs and eats her squirrel, thankful for the warm prey to cover up the slightly bitter taste of the borage leaves.
"Oh Rosethorn our kits are beautiful" he purrs and licks his mate cheek. He looks at his two kits, one a dark ginger; nearly as dark as Rosethorn and the other was a grey with a blue tinge now that the fur was dry.
"The dark ginger is a she-cat and the grey one is a tom, I already thought of a few names for the she-cat, sorry. You can name the tom" She meowed.
Stoneclaw purred "Always ahead Rosethorn, well…the tom reminds me of the dark grey clouds before it rains…how about Rainkit?" he asked".
"That's a great idea, and for the she-cat I thought of Applekit" Rosethorn meowed.
Stoneclaw licks each kit "Rainkit and Applekit, that's nice. I love it. I'll be back later, in the mean time please eat the mouse" Stoneclaw meowed and left the nursery.
"Wow, Lionpaw you have more kin in the clan now." Snowpaw meowed her eyes on Stoneclaw when he left the nursery.
"Doesn't matter, they won't replace the one kin I ever need, Greycloud" Lionpaw meowed.
"You should see them. I mean they would come to love you" Oakpaw meowed. "They are quite adorable, not nearly as big as my little brother is though" he adds.
"Well he did have a day to grow" Silverpaw meowed
"That and I can't really see them anyway, and they are too young for them to have an individual scent, they will just have that milky scent and a hint of Rosethorn" Lionpaw meowed
"Oops, I forgot you can't see sometimes" Oakpaw meowed.
"I will take that as a good thing, least you forget, all the other warriors seem to think I will run into a tree or something" Lionpaw comments.
"Hey let's all hunt and do some individual training" Nightpaw suggested and glanced at Lionpaw. They fell asleep last night and none of them managed to get up for secret training.
Lionpaw took the hint and stands "Let's go, coming Oakpaw?" he asked.
"Sorry, I want to stay here and help out with the kits in case one gets sick, I mean it's getting colder by the day" Oakpaw meowed
"Good luck" Nightpaw licks her brother on the ear and leads the group of apprentices out.
"Then, I'll fight Lionpaw, Silverpaw can battle Snowpaw" Nightpaw meowed. Lionpaw nods feeling his fur prickle with the combined excitement of his and Nightpaw's.
He crouched down and before they knew it they were tumbling around in the wet slush from the melting snow. Lionpaw had Nightpaw pinned and was kicked off and they tumbled some more. He could feel his muscles burn with effort and the two broke apart, wet icy slush making their pelts wet.
"Wow, you two are amazing, I'm glad I didn't fight Lionpaw, ready Snowpaw?" Silverpaw asked.
The white she-cat nods and then they scuffled on the ground. It was clear to see who was the better fighter as Silverpaw had Snowpaw pinned down a few moments later.
"Woah, amazing Silverpaw" Lionpaw meowed clearly impressed with her. He felt warm and felt a spark of pride.
Snowpaw got up and shook her pelt now slightly muddy "Silverpaw was always the better fighter" she meowed feeling hot in embarrassment and anger. She wanted to impress Lionpaw but instead he only noticed Silverpaw. 'She always outshines me…'
"It's ok, you were still great, and I lost to her too, so don't feel bad" Lionpaw meowed to reassure her.
The apprentices tried to hunt but ended up only catching a vole. It was getting harder to hunt and the clan was getting thinner, Lionpaw was one of the first to decide not to eat though no one could really see how thin he's gotten with his fur, but now that it's clinging to him his thin figure was clearly shown.
"It's so cold, I wish we stayed in the nest" Snowpaw meowed.
"Mouse brain it's only cold cause we rolled around in the wet ground. And besides we have to be useful to the clan" Nightpaw meowed. Being the leader's daughter she always strived to do what's right.
When they got back they were happy to just rest in their nest, all four of them were huddled together as if they were kits huddling in the nursery for warmth.
A quarter moon later, leaf bare was getting colder than ever. Back at the barn it was snowing, inside it was a yowl. One the hay Graycloud was in agony; she was having her second litter of kits.
Firetail was standing over her, licking her gently "its okay, relax and push, I'm no medicine cat but I'm here for you" he murmured and licks her gently.
Max and Sky stood by watching both looking worries. Soon Graycloud gave birth to a kit; it was a dark ginger tabby tom. Max helped groom the kit till he wails. Soon a second kit came, a long haired dark gray she-kit, this time Firetail licks the kit. Max and Firetail placed the kits at Graycloud's belly.
"Will she be alright?" Max asked with concern.
"I'm sure she will, it looks like it" Firetail meows.
Graycloud wraps her tail around her kit, she looks to Mat "Thanks so much Max" she looked at Firetail, eyes full of love, "Thank you too Firetail" she rests up.
Late she queen wakes up and looks to see the ginger kit and instantly thought of Lionpaw. She missed her kits so much, she looks at her kits and felt excitement, warmth, and joy the Firetail was here.
She remembered the fear and dread and fear of her punishment when her kits were born. With these kits she didn't feel threatened. She had these kits and they would be with her.
"Hey Graycloud, you look well rested, please eat, you need to make milk for my...um I mean our kits" Firetail meowed.
"You can say it…we never got to say it out loud with pride" Graycloud purred.
"These are my kits, our kits" Firetail meowed happily and lays beside her and grooms her.
After Graycloud ate the mouse she looked at Firetail "What will we name them?" she asked
"Firetail looked at the kits, "The she cat looks like you, right down to the flecks, but they are barely noticeable" Firetail purrs.
"She looks like a fluffy storm cloud…what about Storm?" Max asked shyly unsure if he should leave it to them.
Graycloud and Firetail nods licking "Guess we can't really give them clan names... Well the tom reminds me of my father Scorchpelt, can we name him Scorch?" Firetail asked.
"Storm and Scorch, nice names" Sky murmured.
"They will leave with us until they wish to leave" Graycloud meowed.
The cats settled down, warm and happy.
Pinekit was out playing with Applekit and Rainkit. They opened their eyes awhile ago and were enjoying themselves. Crowstar looked at Pinekit with pride as he played with his den mates.
"My little brother is so cute, he is very prickly like pine needles" Nightpaw purred.
"Hey isn't Applekit and Rainkit your kin?" Talonclaw meowed.
"Yes, but he really should see them now" Snowpaw meowed.
Lionpaw just nods and goes to the nursery which was easy enough with the milky scents. He smelt Stoneclaw and stopped; to his surprise he felt joy.
"Lionpaw, meet you kin, kits come here" the tom calls his kits over.
"This is Applekit, Applekit, this is the tom I told you about" Stoneclaw meowed.
The dark ginger she-cat stepped up to gaze at the big long haired fiery tom "Wow, is it true you are blind?" she asked, her blue eyes wide.
"Yes, but I can now recognize you by your scent Applekit, so don't count me out" Lionpaw meowed and was washed over with admiration.
"Wow, you're amazing"
"Is that Lionpaw?" Rainkit asked
"Yes, you must be Rainkit" Lionpaw replies and a flash appeared. It was a blue grey tom with pale green eyes and a dark ginger tabby she-cat with blue eyes 'Wow Rainkit must be the grey one and Applekit must be the ginger one'
"All cats old enough to catch their own prey join under the high ledge for a clan meeting" Crowstar called a meeting and everyone was gathered.
"It's been long overdue to make apprentices warriors" Crowstar meowed and everyone looked surprised as they started at the apprentices.
"Stoneclaw is Nightpaw ready?" Crowstar asked
"Yes, more than ready" meowed the grey tom.
"And Brambleleaf and Stripefur's apprentices are ready as well. I call upon Star clan to look down upon these apprentices, they have trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code and I commend them as warriors in their turn." Crowstar began the ritual for the ceremony his voice rang out through the camp.
"Nightpaw, Silverpaw, and Snowpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code even at the cost of your lives?" Crowstar asked.
"I do" Nightpaw meowed and sat up straight and tall, her pelt sleek and groomed.
"I…I do" Snowpaw meowed very nervously, her white pelt was spotless.
"I do!" Silverpaw meowed she cat up straight, filled with pride as she met Shimmerpelt's gaze.
"Then by the power of Star clan I give you your warrior name, Nightpaw, from this day forth you will be Nightfrost. Snowpaw from this day forth you will be Snowfall. And Silverpaw from this day forth you will be Silverstorm. We honor your loyalty and skill and we now welcome you as a full warrior of Thunder clan" Crowstar finished.
"Nightfrost! Snowfall! Silverstorm!" the clan yowls and cheers.
"Hey what about my apprentice!" Lightfeather yowled. The love for Crowstar faded into rage.
"He's blind"
Crowstar meowed.
The murmurs filled the clan, could a blind cat be a warrior?
"He's trained hard. Harder than any apprentice has ever trained" Frostfur meowed.
"No, a blind warrior would only weaken Thunder clan" Crowstar comments.
"I've trained so hard and I fought just as hard as any cat when Shadow clan attacked is. I Deserve to be a warrior" Lionpaw hissed, fur prickling.
"Now of the kits are old enough to be apprenticed anyway. Until they are ready, and when I see fit, I will make you a warrior" Crowstar meows.
"You just want me to rot as an apprentice! So you can put me in the elders den as soon as I'm old enough! Graycloud would never let you keep me from being a warrior!" Lionpaw yowled with rage.
"ENOUGH! What I say goes! Keep this up and I will sent you to the elders" Crowstar bellowed. His golden eyes burning with rage.
Lionpaw felt a tail go around his mouth and smelt Shadowflame.
"That's enough Lionpaw" Shadowflame meowed.
Hissing Lionpaw storms out of camp, fur wild and standing on end, his tail lashing angrily.
"Lousy Crowstar, I will make a great warrior" he growled at he went through the forest. The tom suddenly felt a drop of snow land on his nose.
By the time Lionpaw reached the Shadow clan border a light blanket of snow covered the ground and his fur. Feeling the weight of the snow he shook it off.
"Looks like it's the blind one" came a voice making Lionpaw stop,
"Why so close to our border?" You better not try to steal our prey" Lionpaw threatened, his anger making him speak boldly.
"Wow, brave words, easy Clawheart I like this apprentice, he doesn't cower" Coldstar stepped up and Lionpaw forced his fur flat.
"Lionpaw?" Maplepaw came from behind Clawheart.
"Maplepaw you know this apprentice?" asked Coldstar
This made both apprentice nervous. They did know each other and the spark that made his fur prickle when she was near made him feel worst. He didn't understand why he got this feeling.
"Yes from gatherings" Maplepaw meowed.
Lionpaw was wondering why they were here chatting "Look just because I'm blind doesn't mean I won't claw you" Lionpaw meowed. He felt Maplepaw's anxiety and felt he should have kept quiet.
Coldstar stared at the apprentice "Your blindness makes you fear nothing, we clearly out number you, a nice warrior asset, fierce, like your father" Coldstar meowed knowing Crowstar gave no indication to who the apprentice father is.
This caught Lionpaw's attention "I won't be a warrior, Crowstar won't let me and What about my father? Who is he?" Lionpaw asked as Graycloud never told him who his father was.
"You are clearly fit and strong, Crowstar's a mouse brain for not using you. But Shadow clan could" Coldstar stated, ignoring the question.
Lionpaw couldn't believe he was being invited to Shadow clan and his fur prickled slightly at an image of piercing green eyes.
"Filthy Shadow clan, you are too close and doing more than just patrolling" Stoneclaw had come from the bushes.
Clawheart growled but looked to Coldstar.
"Fine, we will go, come apprentice, Clawheart" Coldstar walks away.
"Lionpaw, did he say anything to you? Why didn't you call for help? You yowled loud enough at camp" Stoneclaw asked.
"What does it matter?" Just go back to Rosethorn and your kits" Lionpaw meowed.
"It matter because Coldstar and Clawheart would kill you in a fight, you could take on that apprentice, but you wouldn't last in a fight with those brutes" Stoneclaw meowed. "Now come back to camp"
Lionpaw stopped in his tracks "No, I'm just a weak link, a useless blind tom, in Thunder clan anyway" he growled and force of Stoneclaw's shock and fear nearly knocked him over.
"You can't be serious? That fox dung actually- Lionpaw cats care about you, your friends, and…and Me, I care about you, I wish you saw how Applekit looked at you, so full of admiration and love" Stoneclaw began. He feared Coldstar convinced Lionpaw to join him in return for warrior ship.
Lionpaw's sighed and shook his head "Stoneclaw, none of that matters to me now, I want to be a warrior" meowed Lionpaw.
"I know, I see it with every step you take, but you must work hard. Now come back, Lightfeather is sad, she thinks the reason you aren't a warrior is because she's a terrible mentor" Stoneclaw meowed.
"Lightfeather, please, you aren't a bad mentor… I think you are wonderful" Mudshadow, the dark brown and black tom was wrapped around the pathetic white and ginger warrior who sat in a miserable heap on the snow ground.
"He must hate me, I… I-" her soft wails were cut short by Mudshadow's gentle licking.
"Poor Lionpaw, he should have been a warrior too" Snowfall meowed, looking hopefully at the entrance.
"He's touch, strong, amazing, maybe we could help him" meowed Silverstorm.
"Nightfrost, is Lionpaw and Stoneclaw coming back?" Pinekit asked with Applekit and Rainkit behind him.
"There he is!" Applekit squealed and raced over to Lionpaw with Rainkit behind her.
"Woah" with a huff her landed on his back with the two kits on him.
"Lionpaw you came back" Applekit mewed happily.
"See Lionpaw" Stoneclaw told him. "Come kits, Rosethorn would want to groom you" Stoneclaw meowed.
"Hey Lionpaw" Lionpaw walked straight pass the black warrior as he heads straight to Lightfeather and Mudshadow.
"Lionpaw… I'm so sorry" Lightfeather mewed. Mudshadow glared at Lionpaw forgetting he couldn't see it.
The ginger tom leans into her fur "It's not your fault, never, you are a great mentor" he told her.
Lightfeather nods "Okay, it's all I needed to hear"
Lionpaw turns and walks away.
Nightfrost, Snowfall and Silverstorm stood outside to guard camp. It was bitterly cold and the she-cats huddled together.
'I wish Lionpaw can be happy…' Snowfall though. To her the tom is always sad and nothing goes right for him. 'And I want to make him happy' she added.
As the sun rose, light shined and hits the three she-cats, she looks at Silverstorm who shined bright and her fur sparkled, brighter than normal.
Her thoughts were gone when Nightfrost yawned. Silverstorm stood and followed the black she-cat inside.
"Nightfrost I'm so proud of you. All three of you can talk, grab something from the fresh kill pile" Crowstar meowed.
The three she-cats left into the warrior den, Talonclaw was sleeping next to three empty nests that he obviously he made for them. Nightfrost curled up in the nest closest to Talonclaw, sinking into the warmth of his golden brown fur. Snowfall and Silverstorm curled up on the other two nests.
Lionpaw walks out and ruffled his fur and he couldn't help but shiver, being the only one in the den made the nights of leaf bare very col.
"Lionpaw, you on patrol with me and Frostfur" Mudshadow meowed.
The blind tom said nothing as he followed the two warriors. Now long before the patrol started a mouse was brave enough to try and forage for any remaining food Lionpaw crouched into the hunter crouch. Frostfur made a motion with her tail to signal to Mudshadow to be quiet.
Lionpaw walks as quietly as he can on the snow. The scent was strong and he can clearly hear the mouse's paws scraping the snow. Lionpaw leaps and kills the mouse instantly.
"Good job, let's keep going" Frostfur meowed.
By the time the patrol returned Frostfur wasn't feeling good and was sent to Skypool's den.
Where's Oneeye?" Lionpaw asked dropping his catch.
"He's got the green cough, he's been acting funny since this morning" meowed Copperfur.
"He may not make it, he is the oldest cat" Lionpaw meowed as he gave the two warm pieces of prey to them.
"No, I know you haven't ate, eat the vole, Copperfur and I will share" Windpelt meowed.
Lionpaw haven't ate for awhile but his long pelt hides most of his frame. He gladly accepts the mouse; the warmth of the kill was too good and finished in a few bites.
Thanking them Lionpaw walks out only to hear Crowstar calling a meeting.
"I got an announcement to make, I got a report from Shimmerpelt and Shadowflame that Wind clan scent is in our territory along with paw prints that was left being" Crowstar meowed.
"Lousy Wind clan!" hissed Blazeclaw
"We already showed Shadow clan a lesson I say we confront Wind clan" Mudshadow meowed and all the cats yowled in agreement.
Lionpaw shook his head "Mouse brains" he muttered.
"We must not! Though if any of you see Wind clan or Shadow clan on our territory feel free to chase them off our territory" Crowstar meowed which was good enough for Mudshadow and the others.
The clan settled down and the scent filled his nose "Snowfall..." he meowed. His fur felt warm when she brushed against him.
"Lionpaw, can we hunt?" Snowfall asked, she really wanted to talk to him.
The apprentice nods and follows her out of camp. He realized how much he missed her and his heart fluttered 'could it be I have feelings for her' he wondered.
"Hey…um Lionpaw…I…we wanted to know…will you ever be ok? Will you still be with us?" Snowfall asked. "I missed you…having you beside me" she added her pelt flushing.
Lionpaw looks straight ahead and them stops. "No, you all are warriors, No, I won't ever be ok"
"I'm still here; I don't care about you still being an apprentice. I care about you and I just want to see you happy" Snowfall meowed.
Lionpaw purred "I'm happy to know you care so much" he exclaimed. "I care about you too Snowfall" he murmured before licking her cheek pleased by her purr.
They returned with a mouse and a thrush. Silverstorm tackles into Lionpaw as soon as he moved from the fresh kill pile.
"Silverstorm, I didn't expect that" he grumbled and soon he quickly swiped his paw at her.
"I may be Silverstorm but I'm the same" she purred.
"We miss you Lionpaw, I know, we should all sleep with Lionpaw… it's got to be cold alone in the apprentice den" Nightfrost mewed.
"That's nice, I would join tot" Talonclaw meowed walking up to them.
"He'd go anyway with Nightfrost" Snowfall teased making both cats shuffle their paws.
Lionpaw blinked he was so surprised they would do this for him "Oh thanks you guys" Lionpaw meowed.
"We are your friends, we don't want you to feel lonely" Silverstorm meowed.
By the end of the day Oneeye, the oldest warrior of the clan had joined Star clan. The clan was silent. Windpelt and Copperfur took the black and white tom out to bury him.
Skypool was back to focusing on Frostfur the older warrior was getting worst but knew she wouldn't die as easily as One eye.
Frostfur, to her pleasure was visited by Hawkstorm and his sister Brambleleaf; the three of them were very close.
"I'm sorry, but you two must leave, I don't want more warriors getting sick." Skypool instructed.
"I'll see you later Frostfur, get well" Hawkstorm meowed and leaves the den, his sister behind him.
The sun went down and cats were starting to share tongues. Crowstar was huddled next to Brownflower and Pinekit, the new family was happy and warm despite the cold.
"Nightfrost, share tongues with me" Mudshadow meowed curling his tail. Since Nightfrost became a warrior her older brother has been a lot more willing to be around his younger sibling and feels less awkward. Nightfrost still held admiration each time she saw him.
"Of course" she meowed and brother and sister groom each other and talk about things.
Lionpaw purred happily as Snowfall started grooming his fur. He smelt Talonclaw nearby with Silverstorm. "Silverstorm, Talonclaw, over here" he meowed.
The four friends talked and shared tongues "Hey, Lionpaw…so you feeling ok right?" Silverstorm asked.
"Yea, I'm fine now…I want to thank you all again for deciding to stay with me" Lionpaw meowed looking down and felt Silverstorm's tail brush his side.
"Silly tom, I'm always with you, remember I never left you alone" Silverstorm meowed remembering the days of kit hood where she always bothered and pestered the blind tom.
Lionpaw purred "Yea, you were annoying to me back then" he told her which earned a cuff on the ear. 'But I find you very warming now, like the light of the sun' he thought and became warm with the thought.
"Besides we are your friends and we all find it unfair how Crowstar refuse to make you a warrior" Snowfall meowed as if trying to get Lionpaw's attention back which broke Lionpaw's deep thought.
Everyone was going to their dens and Lionpaw heads to the apprentice den along with Talonclaw, Nightfrost, Snowfall and Silverstorm despite the odd looks from the other warriors. They didn't want Lionpaw to be cold and lonely.
The five cats huddled together and fell asleep.
Lionpaw was greeted in stars and the day's events rushed through him. He saw how angry Crowstar was at the warrior ceremony, he saw how Applekit and Rainkit looked at him and it made his whiskers twitched.
"Stoneclaw was right" he meowed
He felt warm when he saw how Snowfall looked at him but his heart pounded when he saw Silverstorm.
"Why do I feel this way? I'm so confused" he meowed and shook his head.
"The gentle snow will help you but true warmth comes from the silver light" came a soft voice. Lionpaw looked everywhere in search of a cat.
"Shadows is rising, beware" meowed the voice.
Soon a tortoiseshell she cat appeared, her blue eyes were piercing and his made the spark fly in his fur. Then it showed the forest, she was at the border.
"There is Kin in places you don't expect, you must go" meowed the voice.
Lionpaw looked at Maplepaw and wondered if he should leave camp.
Lionpaw awaked his eyes back into darkness. He had to see if Maplepaw was there at the border or not.
He stood up and moves to avoid treading on anyone's tail. He felt bad for leaving but he knew he would be back in time. He walked out into the forest; he was listening for anyone trying to follow. The chilly wind blew and ruffled his fur making him wish he was back in his nest.
When he arrived at the border between Shadow clan and Thunder clan he paused and hid in the bushes. A flash appeared and he saw Maplepaw and knew she was here. "Maplepaw" he hissed.
"Lionpaw? You are here… I got a strange vision saying you would be here" Maplepaw meowed.
Lionpaw stepped out and the she-cat crossed the border to meet him. He purred as she pressed her face in his fur. "It's been awhile...how's prey hunting for you?" he asked.
"We are barely getting anything. I haven't eaten for two sunrises just to make sure everyone eats" Maplepaw meowed.
Lionpaw's fur prickled and felt a feeling of dread, something was wrong with Maplepaw and he pressed close to her. "Hey… I can tell something else is on your mind" he meowed.
Maplepaw's eyes were wide and felt defensive but she met his grey eyes who were set on her in an intense gaze as if he could see her but she knew better. "Well…remember when me and Coldstar and Clawheart found you the other day…well Darkpelt was in our patrol…when we caught up with him and Clawheart was talking about you.." she paused and turn her head, she thought she heard something.
Lionpaw's ears twitched to listen knowing they would be in trouble if they were caught, they were friends but to any other cat it would look like they were sneaking to see each other in a different way.
"Well…remember the battle? Shadow clan…well we attacked your clan that night...well back when he was Darkpaw he saw me run into you and not fight you and thought that I had feelings for you and is a traitor…he told them…and now…I can't be a warrior for awhile…he promised he wouldn't tell" Maplepaw meowed and anger and sadness rolled off of her.
"I'm sorry…you should have attacked me…I would have understood" Lionpaw meowed knowing if she had he would have to fight.
"I can't. I…something in me wouldn't let me hurt you….and now everyone looks at me funny…even Fogpelt….and my own brother hates me…Blackclaw looked hurt at one point…and he told me…you killed Hazelpaw…" she meowed.
Lionpaw's eyes were wide a flash came with the picture of a bloody light brown she-cat. He also remembered a black tom who was Blackpaw and he clearly remembered Darkpaw as he had fought him.
"I…oh no… I killed her? No Maplepaw I didn't mean to…" he meowed backing away.
Maplepaw felt anger so Blackclaw wasn't lying to her and she turned away "Lionpaw…you killed my sister…but…you didn't kill her like on purpose…she dies later from the wounds…and she always was the weaker one out of Blackclaw and myself" she meowed turning back to him.
"I'm no good for you Maplepaw…you are distrusted by your clan and you can't be a warrior… this…this is the last time I see you…" he meowed and turns to leave.
"Wait! you can't…you don't understand…didn't you always feel strange when you see me? I know I do…and I don't understand…and I've been having these dreams…I always see a ginger tom…walking with this long haired grey she-cat…I always see myself with them… I see Ambergaze and Blackclaw fading from me and the two cats come closer… I don't understand…" she meowed.
"'There is Kin in places you don't expect'" she quoted and this got Lionpaw's attention.
"I've heard that before…I had it before coming here…maybe..." he was trying to think.
"Hey…why haven't you become a warrior? You and I are the same age?" she asked.
"Hehe I'm blind Maplepaw, I can't see…and Crowstar is using that to keep me an apprentice…he claims he will as soon as the kits are ready to be apprenticed." He grumbled.
"I see… I know you are a great warrior…maybe by the next gathering we will be warriors. I have to prove my loyalty and you have to prove your strength" she meowed.
Suddenly the bushes ruffled and out then growling. "Maplepaw get away from him" Fogpelt growled as he launched himself out of the bushes, his blue eyes cold and narrowed.
The two toms stood claws out and both hissing.
That's it. Will Fogpelt and Lionpaw tear each other apart? Will they attract more of the clan? What will happen next? Read and Review people next chapter will be some new ranking then the next chapter we pic up on the meeting and then it will be Shadow clan's' view with an occasional scene from Graycloud.