Chapter 19

I am extremely happy right now. 5 reviews? You guys are awesome! I know it doesn't seem like much, but I was expecting much less after such a long hiatus - 3 at the most. Anyways, sorry if this update seems a little late. My life has been extremely busy lately. I won't bore you with the details, but I'm warning you that all my updates might be a little late for awhile.

WildCroconaw - I guess Appletail's really tough. xD I wouldn't say Stormfur loves her like he loves Brook, but he does love her as a friend, so of course he was extremely happy that she was alive. (:

Lightkit - x3 Yes, Tigerstar has finally gone over to the dark side! At least he gets cookies. (:

Lightningstreak - Hmmm, I never thought of it like that, but that could work! xD Ahah, any kind of phsycoticness = epic win! Especially with Hawkfrost!

Marshpelt - Thanks! :D Yeah, I know a cat couldn't push a boulder alone, so I tried to describe that a lot of cats were pushing it, not just one. I guess it didn't work, though. x)

Blackpaw stared at Nightpaw in shock, his eyes wide, his mouth gaping open. He couldn't believe it. He knew his sister had changed after the rebel's meeting, but he never thought the black she-cat would deliberately betray them like this. The young apprentice could tell by the expressions on Firepaw and Stormfur's faces that they were thinking the same thing.

Blackpaw was snapped out of his thoughts as Hawkstar laughed coldly from where he sat in his nest. His icy blue eyes glittered with malice as he stared down at the three cats before him.

"You never expected your own kin to betray you, did you?" he hissed, his deep voice as smooth as velvet. "You never thought your precious sister would ever join scum like me!"

Hawkstar chuckled again, the sound of it sending shivers down Blackpaw's spine. "Well you were wrong. And now your poor judgement will cost you your life."

Out of the corner of his eye, Blackpaw saw Nightpaw hiss and stand up, her muscles tensing as if she were about to spring. Oh no, he thought, shaking his head. No, no, no. This can't be happening. Nightpaw wouldn't kill us, would she?

Hawkstar was addressing his own warriors now. "You know why I've brought all of you here," he growled. "It's time for you to prove your loyalty to me."

With a lazy flick of his tail towards the prisoners, the great tabby tom meowed two words that resounded in Blackpaw's head with all the authority of a god. "Kill them."

The two cats that had been guarding the entrance began to stalk forwards, as did Ashfur and Nightpaw. The only one who seemed even slightly reluctant was Ashfur - no matter how evil he truly was, the pale gray tom didn't want to kill his own kits.

Blackpaw's head was spinning. They were surrounded. The black apprentice began to back away from his father and his sister, only to scurry forward again when he remembered the cats behind him.

"Nightpaw. Father," he meowed, putting all of the desperation and fear he was feeling into those two words. "You wouldn't kill your own kin, would you? You aren't that cruel. I know you aren't."

Ashfur faltered again at Blackpaw's words, but Nightpaw kept on coming, letting out a frosty laugh as she did so. She sounded almost exactly like Hawkstar had only a few moments before.

"You really think your petty words can stop me, Blackpaw?" she hissed. "You are even more pathetic than I thought."

Blackpaw closed his eyes and turned away. He knew his demise was coming, but he couldn't fight it. He refused to fight it. No matter what Nightpaw had become, he wasn't going to kill her, or even attack her.

Suddenly, there was a great commotion from outside, and every cat in the den froze as a loud yowl echoed throughout the camp.

"Stop them!"

Before Blackpaw knew what was happening, a group of rebels burst into Hawkstar's den and fell onto Pounceflight, Owlwhisker, Ashfur and Hawkstar. Yowls filled the hollowed out log, as did the sound of claws meeting claws, and fangs meeting flesh.

"Firepaw, Blackpaw, Nightpaw, Stormfur!" caterwauled a voice from somewhere in the commotion. Blackpaw recognized it as Cloudtail. "Get out of here! Run!"

The apprentices and their warrior companion hastily obeyed his orders and pushed their way out of the den, only to find a similar battle raging outside. Blackpaw's heart pounded furiously in his chest, and blood rushed in his ears. The young black tom was too panicked to realize that Nightpaw had come with them, or that the rebels knew nothing of her betrayal.

Blackpaw tried to push his way through the mass of screeching cats around him with his siblings, trying to get to the stepping stones and escape. He could nearly see the edge of the crowd, and hear the rushing of the river, when he suddenly felt a sharp pain on his flank.

The black tom spun around to see Harepaw growling at him furiously and baring his teeth. Blackpaw had never paid much attention to the former BrambleClan apprentice, and he regretted that now. The wiry brown tabby tom lashed out at Blackpaw's face with unsheathed claws, and he barely managed to dodge it, ducking down low. With his head still down, he rushed forward and crashed into the other tom's chest. Harepaw staggered backwards, losing his balance, and Blackpaw knocked him to the ground with a hard blow to the head, sending the other apprentice into unconsciousness.

The short skirmish over, Blackpaw spun around, trying to find his siblings, only to come face-to-face with Marshwhisker, the same cat he had defeated at the battle of Bramblestar's death.

"You again?" Blackpaw taunted. "Didn't you learn your lesson last time?"

Marshwhisker growled deep in his throat and glared at Blackpaw with hate-filled eyes. "You don't have your little sister to help you this time, apprentice," he spat.

Blackpaw bristled and hissed furiously at the other tom. The two of them stood motionlessly for a moment as the battle raged on around them. Suddenly, Marshwhisker pounced, forcing Blackpaw to leap as well. The warrior and apprentice met in midair, and they tumbled to the ground with their limbs tangled together.

The moment they touched the soil, the two enemies began a fierce wrestling match that sent them rolling through the other fighting cats. Both of them were trying to get on top and gain control, while still inflicting a wound or two.

Finally, after what seemed like hours but was really only a few minutes, Blackpaw managed to roll Marshwhisker underneath him and hold his position. Letting out a yowl of triumph, the apprentice sunk his teeth deep into the other tom's shoulder while raking his claws along the other side.

Caught up in the heat of battle, and having never been taught it was wrong, Blackpaw began to move his fangs toward his opponent's throat, planning to inflict the death blow and end this fight for good. Before his teeth could reach their target, however, the former ShadowClan warrior's claws raked across his soft underbelly, making Blackpaw screech in pain. The black tom instinctively leaped off his opponent, but instead of continuing the fight, Marshwhisker turned tail and raced away.

Grinning victoriously, Blackpaw spun around once more, knowing he had to find Firepaw and Stormfur before it was too late. Instead of spotting either of them, however, he found himself staring straight into the cold blue eyes of Nightpaw.

Blackpaw's sister smirked at her brother, and he heard her claws slide smoothly out of their sheaths. "You can't escape from me this time, Blackpaw," she meowed icily. Blackpaw shivered.

The dark gray she-cat crouched and began to stalk towards her brother, her eyes narrowed, a sneer on her lips. Instead of meeting her challenge, Blackpaw began to back away, his eyes wide with fear. He knew from their training sessions together that he couldn't beat her in a fight, and this certain fight would cost him his life.

Nightpaw was about to spring when Blackpaw heard a deep voice behind him.

"Blackpaw, Nightpaw."

Blackpaw turned around only to see Graystripe standing in front of him, looking completely different than the black tom had ever seen him before. His coat shone, his eyes were bright and confident, and he no longer seemed skinny or gaunt. This was the cat who had once been the best friend of Firestar and the noble deputy of ThunderClan, not the heartbroken heap of fur Blackpaw had known for his entire life. Behind him stood Stormfur and Firepaw, who were staring at Nightpaw fearfully.

"Graystripe?" Blackpaw meowed in shock, his eyes wide. Even Nightpaw had stiffened in amazement. "What happened to you?"

"I'll explain later," Graystripe meowed quickly. "For now, we have to focus on escaping from this dunghole."

"Right," Blackpaw meowed with a nod. With that said, the five cats - Nightpaw included - turned towards the stepping stones and began pushing their way through the crowd once more.

This time, the little group of cats made it. As Blackpaw shouldered his way through the last wall of fighting cats, he let out a sigh of relief. "Let's get out of here," Graystripe meowed.

The gray tabby tom slipped easily into the river and began paddling to the other side. He was followed by Stormfur, who seemed much more graceful and comfortable in the water than his father.

Not wanting to be left behind, Blackpaw leaped onto the first stepping stone, and then the next. Nightpaw was so close behind him that he could feel her breath on his fur. Blackpaw kept himself tensed and ready, in case the dark gray she-cat tried anything, but he managed to cross safely without any incidents.

Stormfur and Graystripe were waiting for the apprentices on the other side, their fur soaking wet. As he reached land, Blackpaw was struck by how much the two toms looked alike - they had the same color of fur, the same build, and even the same eyes.

When all the siblings had reached the bank, Stormfur looked around nervously and meowed, "We'd better run before anybody sees us. I'm amazed they haven't yet."

Before Stormfur could finish his sentence, Blackpaw was charging across the marshy terrain towards the moors, his brother and sister by his side.

"Where are we going?" he called to Graystripe over the wind whistling in his ears.

"The old WindClan camp," the gray tom replied. "That's the last place anybody will look."

Blackpaw nodded and sped up his pace, wanting to get to their destination as fast as possible, before anyone noticed their absence. As the young tom ran, he realized he had never run as fast as he was now. It was exhilarating. It felt as if he were flying.

Despite that, Firepaw soon sped past him, as did the two warriors, and Blackpaw was left with only Nightpaw by his side. He tried to speed up, wanting to get away from the traitor he called his sister, but it was impossible - he was already running as fast as he could, and he was beginning to tire.

"Don't think you can get away from your death so easily, Blackpaw," the gray she-cat hissed maliciously in his ear. "If Hawkstar doesn't find you sooner or later, I'll kill you myself."

With that, the she-cat sped up, leaving Blackpaw to stare after her in shock.

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When Blackpaw finally reached the abandoned WindClan camp, his sides were heaving and his heart was pounding. The rest of the group had reached the camp before him, and they looked up impatiently as he arrived.

"Sorry," he meowed, hanging his head in embarrassment. He felt something brush against his shoulder, and turned to see Firepaw watching him sympathetically.

"It's okay," the ginger tom murmured. "Not all of us are fast runners."

Blackpaw smiled at his brother, and suddenly he realized how hurt he would be if he ever lost the other tom. The black apprentice squared his shoulders and decided that if Nightpaw or Hawkstar ever wanted to hurt Firepaw, they would have to go through him first.

"Right," Graystripe meowed, making Blackpaw and Firepaw turn to look at him. "Now that we're all here-"

"Wait," Blackpaw interrupted. "Before you do anything, you have to tell us why you're so… different."

Graystripe sighed. "I suppose you all have the right to know."

The tom sat down, and a faraway look appeared in his amber eyes. "Before the Great Journey, I was much different than I am now, cheerful, enthusiastic, and respected by all the Clans. But then the Twolegs took me.

"I managed to escape, and eventually found the Clans living by the lake, with Millie's help of course. When I returned to ThunderClan however, I learned that Firestar was dead. That in itself was a huge blow - he had been my best friend, after all - but the knowledge that I still had Stormfur and Millie by my side comforted me. I wasn't completely alone.

"Then, Bramblestar and Hawkstar took over, and Millie and Stormfur were driven out. When that happened, my life was destroyed. Any hope I had left after Firestar's death was gone. My best friend was dead. My kits were dead. Both of my mates were dead. I had nothing left to live for.

"And then, when Stormfur was taken prisoner, I learned that both he and Millie were alive, and that the three prophesized cats had finally come. My hope returned. I joined the rebels, and began to help them plan your escape. You know what happened after that."

Graystripe smiled down at the three apprentices, but Blackpaw could see the sadness in his eyes.

"Graystripe," Stormfur meowed softly. "I am so sorry I caused you all that pain." He paused, and his eyes glittered guiltily. "So try to remember that when I leave you now, I'm not trying to hurt you."

Blackpaw's eyes widened at the tom's words. "You're leaving? Why? We need you!" he cried.

Stormfur sighed. "I must return to Brook, Millie and Leafpool - and my kits," he meowed. "But you must always remember that when Hawkstar's dying day comes, I will return with vengeance in my heart."

"Good bye, Stormfur," Graystripe meowed, and the sadness in his voice pierced Blackpaw's heart like a thorn. "Stay safe."

The two toms, father and son, touched muzzles one last time before Stormfur turned and began to race across the moorland, leaving the entire group staring after him with sullen eyes.

"Well," Graystripe meowed after a long moment of silence. "I'd best start telling you the plan, before it's too late."

Blackpaw searched the gray warrior's face, trying to find any trace of the grief that had been there before, but it had disappeared.

"You're welcome to stay outside as much as you want, or even go hunting if you really want, but one of you must always be on watch. If you see anyone coming, even me or one of the rebels, you must hide in that old badger set." Graystripe flicked his tail towards a large hole in the ground. "I've smeared the edges with fox dung to mask your scent and to keep Hawkstar's supporters from going inside."

Nightpaw wrinkled her nose. "You expect us to stay in a den smelling like that?" she spat contemptuously.

Graystripe raised an eyebrow at her. "If you want to live, then yes."

Nightpaw growled angrily at him and spat on the ground, but said no more.

"Anyways," the gray tom continued. "Beechfur will regularly send some of the rebels to tell you what's been happening in the Clan, and bring you food and water if you haven't been able to get out of the camp in awhile."

Graystripe paused and glanced up at the sky, where the sun was already beginning to sink beneath the horizon. "I think that's about it. I'd better get back before Hawkstar notices I'm gone."

"But isn't Hawkstar going to punish all of the rebels?" Blackpaw meowed before Graystripe could leave.

"Hawkstar couldn't possibly punish half of the Clan," he replied confidently. "Besides, knowing that useless lump of fur, he probably couldn't tell who was fighting on his side and who was fighting on ours."

With a quick smile and a flick of his tail, the warrior turned and began to bound towards TigerClan camp.

"I'm going to sleep," Nightpaw spat the moment the gray tom was out of earshot. Without waiting for a reply, the apprentice turned and padded into the nearby badger set. Blackpaw heard her spit again as the horrid smell hit her nostrils before she disappeared into the blackness.

"I don't like having her here," he meowed, staring after the she-cat. "Who knows what she could do to us."

Firepaw sighed. "I don't like it either. But it's better to have her here where we can watch her than back in TigerClan where she can do whatever she wants."

Blackpaw nodded. "I guess that makes sense."

The two brothers were silent for a moment before Blackpaw meowed, "I'll take the watch for tonight. You go get some sleep. Wake me up if Nightpaw tries anything."

Firepaw smiled. "Thanks Blackpaw," he said gratefully, before turning and padding into the smelly badger set himself.

Blackpaw sighed and sat down, his eyes scanning the darkening moorland. For once, the world seemed at peace, but he had no idea what the morning would bring.