DISCLAIMER: I don't own Warriors or 39 Clues.

Chapter 19

RiverClan Territory

Bloodpaw was shaking when she woke up in her nest. The apprentices around her were sound asleep. The apprentices' den was warm, but Bloodpaw felt chilled to the bone. She dreamed of being back in London, not caring about the Clues and leaving the family buiness to her parents. Her mother and father were much less stressed before Grace Cahill started the contest. Then, all her mother thought about was getting rid of Amy and Dan. Natalie and Ian became failures in Isabel's eyes.

In her dream, everything came to Bloodpaw tracking something. She had no idea what she was following, but she knew she had to find something. Fast.

-break-break-break-break-break-break-break-FLASHBACK-

Bloodpaw wasn't in RiverClan territory. The forest around her smelled like ShadowClan. Bloodpaw could smell ThunderClan nearby, so she figured she was near the ShadowClan-ThunderClan border. The scent she was following was heading towards the river, and it zigzaged through so many trees Bloodpaw was almost confused. She still kept running.

Bloodpaw was so focused on the scent she didn't notice everything around her fading. Only a single source of light was visible. A pale gray she-cat formed from the light. She had warm, friendly eyes. Bloodpaw was too mesmerized to realize that she was breathing heavily.

The gray she cat examined Bloodpaw.

"You should really calm down. It's not good for you to be so stressed," the she-cat meowed calmly. She licked her paw and brought it over her ear.

"So figure out what you're tracking yet?"

Bloodpaw shook her head and narrowed her eyes.

"Who are you?" she said, letting a growl come out with her words. The she-cat took no notice of that and continued to clean her ears.

"Nice way to greet someone who's trying to help you with your little problem,"

Bloodpaw tried not to let her surprise show. This cat knew about the 39 Clues. She knew why Natalie, Ian, Dan, and Amy were in the Clans.

"Which problem?" Bloodpaw tested. Let's see how much this cat knows, she thought.

The gray she-cat merely chuckled. "Well, there seems to be a lot of trouble in the Cahill family. Rivals, the branches, the clues, Grace-"

"You know about the clue hunt?" Bloodpaw asked.

"Of course," the she-cat nodded. "StarClan has known about this since the Great Battle."

Bloodpaw almost felt like fainting. This cat knew too much...

"You can't possibly know about this! The clues-they're supposed to be top secret!" Bloodpaw yowled at the gray she-cat. She didn't even flinch.

"You should be glad Hollyleaf didn't visit you. You probably would have angered her before you knew her name," the cat said. She began to narrow her eyes at Bloodpaw.

Hollyleaf? That name seemed familiar. Why was that?

"So then, who are you?" Bloodpaw asked curiously. The she-cat stared at her for a while. Bloodpaw began to feel slightly uncomfortable. Then, the gray cat blinked.

"I'm Dovewing. I don't suppose you'd remember that name,"

Bloodpaw frowed. Dovewing...

"You're one of the Three?" Bloodpaw asked, remembering the conversation she heard when passing by the medicine den. She heard Runningpaw and Yarrowtail speaking about it in hushed voices. While they were talking, Bloodpaw heard her own name. She would have listened even more, but Nightheart had asked her what she was doing there. Bloodpaw lied and said she was there to see Yarrowtail about her claw because it was hurting.

Dovewing nodded. Bloodpaw remembered now. They had mentioned that Dovewing was just an apprentice. Near the end of the Great War, she became a warrior. She had a friendly glint in her eyes, but there was also loss, violence and sorrow in them too. It didn't make sense to Bloodpaw at the time. Why would they be disscussing a ThunderClan cat?

Dovewing's expression became serious, "You should know what this dream means." Dovewing spoke in a faraway voice, almost like she was talking to someone else.

Bloodpaw was about to ask her what she meant when she heard a panicked yowl through the trees. Bloodpaw cringed. Dovewing didn't move at all.

"This dream is a warning, Bloodpaw. There's someone important in your life you cannot trust. You can't trust the other Lucians. They could bring you to your doom," Dovewing said, all the earlier warmness gone from her eyes.

Before Bloodpaw could ask her any more questions, another yowl broke through the pine trees. It was more panicked and it scared Bloodpaw even more. She stared into the trees, eyes wide with horror. When Bloodpaw looked back at where Dovewing was, she was gone.

Bloodpaw rushed in the direction of the yowls. As she came near, she heard the growls and whimpers of the mysterious cats. Bloodpaw could feel that she was getting closer...

Something had slammed into her side before she could find out what she was running to. The attacker was pinning her down so she couldn't move. As much as she struggled, Bloodpaw couldn't get free. Her heart stopped as she heard one last blood-chilling, almost human, scream.

-break-break-break-break-break-break-break-END OF FLASHBACK-

Bloodpaw had seen horrible things while spying for the Lucians and taking care of... buisness, but nothing had scared her more than the dream. It was so real, and Bloodpaw feared she would have to deal with it later on.

She took one shaky breath and walked out of her den. The sky was over-cast and Bloodpaw could feel the humidity in the air. Most of the cats weren't out of their dens, but Blacktail and Rabbitleap were guarding the entrance of the camp, sitting as still as stones. Almost hidden by the nursery was Featherkit, Tansyleaf's only kit. Featherkit was the youngest kit in RiverClan, but she was already as sneaky as some apprentices. She hadn't noticed Bloodpaw watching her, so she crept up on Blacktail and Rabbitleap. The kit was carefully placing her paws on the ground so the guard cats couldn't hear her. Bloodpaw admired the skills of the young kit. She was as light as a feather...

Bloodpaw saw that Blacktail's ear had twitched in Featherkit's direction. He knew she was there. A sense of warmth filled Bloodpaw as she watched in amusement how the little kit was creeping up on her father. Featherkit pounced when she was close enough, but Blacktail ducked. Featherkit rolled to a stop in front of him. Rabbitleap's shoudlers were shaking with laughter.

Bloodpaw wished her parents had played with her and Ian like that. If only they had a beautiful childhood that Bloodpaw would love to always have in her memories...

She noticed that Tansyleaf was walking out of the nursery. Her eyes were filled with panic and she seemed very nervous. When the queen saw her kit playing with Blacktail, the panic in her eyes was replaced with pride and love.

Bloodpaw felt sad and envious once again. The kit had everything they could wish for. Natalie was just a younger Lucian that can steal and kill for Isabel.

Pawsteps a few tail-lengths away made Bloodpaw look away from the kit and warriors. Brambleface, Flamecloud, and Shadowfur all stepped out of the leader's den with Swiftstar. Bloodpaw ran into the apprentices' den. Maybe she could listen in on what they were talking about.

"You're all sure they have trained enough?" Swiftstar's voice was barely a whisper, but Bloodpaw could hear her.

"Freepaw was amazing during her assessment," Flamecloud sounded proud. Bloodpaw looked behind her to see Freepaw fast asleep, having no idea that her mentor was telling the leader how well she did on her assessment.

"Hawkpaw learned quickly, and most of his training was just review," Shadowfur didn't sound much different than Flamecloud. He sounded just as proud as she did.

"Swiftstar, are you sure that Bloodpaw is ready to be made a warrior?" Brambleface's voice was suspicious. Bloodpaw glared at the wall. Of course, he wouldn't want her to be a warrior! Brambleface never liked Bloodpaw.

"I'm sure. She has also learned quickly, wouldn't you agree Flamecloud? Shadowfur?"

"Yes, Swiftstar. Even Freepaw was amazed at how quickly she learned to attack with a partner," Flamecloud said. Bloodpaw grinned. It wasn't new. She and Ian always partnered in attacking an enemy spy.

"Her hunting is also extraordinary! She caught more fish and water voles than Hawkpaw just after a week of being here," Shadowfur"See, Brambleface? Bloodpaw is obviously fit for a warrior status."

Bloodpaw had heard enough. She walked back to her nest, feeling a lot better than she did when she had woken up. The excitement of what was to come in the afternoon was enough to get the dream out of her head. Bloodpaw stretched her jaws open in a giant yawn and curled up in her nest. A blanket of dreamless sleep overtook her in a few seconds.

-break-break-break-break-break-break-break-

RiverClan was murmuring excitedly as they gathered around the boulder where Swiftstar made her announcements. Bloodpaw sat along the edge of the group of cats. Her fur was recently groomed and shone in the light. Freepaw was sitting next to her, looking as nervous as a cornered mouse.

"I can't believe it! It's finally come! Our warrior ceremony!" she gasped. Bloodpaw ignored her and tried to focus on her posture. If Isabel could she how the RiverClan cats sat, she'd be shocked. They weren't horrible, but they weren't perfect. Isabel prefers perfect.

Swiftstar sat on top of the boulder, her eyes scanning the horde of cats. Once all the cats had gathered, Swiftstar cleared her throat.

"It is about time a few apprentices became warriors. Flamecloud, Shadowfur, Brambleface, do you all agree that your apprentices have trained well and have earned the title of warriors?" She seemed to be staring lasers through Brambleface.

"Yes," Flamecloud said, shooting a proud glance toward Freepaw.

"I agree," Shadowfur said, letting a soft purr rumble in his throat. Hawkpaw, who was across the clearing, sat up straighter and seemed to be glowing in excitement.

"Yes..." Brambleface said nonchalantly. It infuriated Bloodpaw to hear her own mentor act so cooly at her warrior ceremony. He didn't care at all.

"Well then, Freepaw, Hawkpaw, and Bloodpaw, please step up," Swiftstar said. The apprentices did just that.

"I, Swiftstar, leader of RiverClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on these three apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code and I commend them to you as warriors in their turn. Freepaw, Hawkpaw, and Bloodpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend this Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Bloodpaw said.

"I do," Freepaw was slightly shaking next to Bloodpaw.

"I do," Hawkpaw said, the happiness in his voice eager to come out.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior names. Freepaw, Hawkpaw, and Bloodpaw, from this day you will be known as Freebird, Hawkstorm, and Bloodflower. StarClan honors your dedication and we welcome you as full members of RiverClan."

The Clan cheered for the new warriors, "Freebird! Hawkstorm! Bloodflower."

Their voices were a bit less excited and cheerful when they called out Bloodflower's new name. She took in a deep breath and kept calm. What they thought of her wasn't important.

"Tonight, you three will keep a silent vigil," Swiftstar explained. Bloodflower's eyes widened. So she was supposed to stay awake all night and keep quiet? Lovely.

Okay, so most of this was a fill-in. Only about half of the chapter will be important later on. I'm so sorry about not updating! I'm sosososososososo sooooooorrrryyyyyy! :( Please tell me what you thought of the chapter. Constructive critisism is welcome. Last chapter of Bonds From Different Clans is next! Yay!