Hey guys, it's me with chapter twenty-fucking -one, and I am so fucking stoked.

Also, I'm going to have to ask you to endure bad writing for a chapter or so, because I haven't written much besides a bunch of poems and essays for a couple of months. Anyways, the chapter, but first, thanks to our newly named CardassianTrekki for always having a positive review for me (*whispers* Nigel is actually a chill dude, but desperation leads to greed, which in turn leads to fucking insanity...not really, but whatever, it goes).

And, uh, yeah, that's about it.

"Listen, obey my command! Hear me, or die by my hand."

-Poltava, Sabaton

Chapter 21:: If War Is What You Wish

The apprentice circled the small clearing opposite to Poisontongue, the black warrior. Both cats were on edge, waiting for the other to strike. Rockpaw saw the apprentice's eyes flicker, taking into account Poisontongue's stance, and every move the warrior could possibly make. Analyzing them, planning how to counter them.

Rockpaw admired the calculative intensity of the apprentice. It reminded him of the more than adequate fighters of ThunderClan, like Hawkstripe and Tigerwhisker. Poisontongue on the other paw, seemed to fight primarily by relying on his instincts. They were good instincts, Rockpaw could see.

Breaking the tension, the apprentice lashed out at Poisontongue, smacking his muzzle and forcing him to flinch backwards. If his claws had been unsheathed, the strike would have left a scar for sure.

It didn't take long for the warrior to retaliate, spinning gracefully and pushing the apprentice backwards with his paws at his flank. The apprentice nearly fell, but regained balance quickly.

They continued fighting as the apprentice who was sitting next to Rockpaw leaned over to whisper into his ear.

"Winterpaw's quite the fighter, huh?"

Rockpaw nodded. "Oh, is that his name?"

The apprentice-she was a completely white cat that would have reminded Rockpaw of Whitepaw if it weren't for her sad, brown eyes-answered, "Yes, but not for long. He's almost old enough to be made a warrior."

Rockpaw nodded. The she-cat's name was Wishpaw, she had introduced herself a few moments before. She was nice to Rockpaw for some reason. Probably just pitied him, a scrawny, starving half-warrior without a home.

"Is Poisontongue his mentor?" he asked.

"Yes, ever since Thrallclaw moved to the nursery. He's a much better mentor than she was, but that could just have been because of the pregnacy." She chuckled in good humor, and so did Rockpaw.

The mock fight ended when Poisontongue knocked Winterpaw to the ground and placed his paw on his apprentice's throat.

Rockpaw was impressed at the structure of this clan. Upon arrival, his first impression had been that they were nothing more than a group of savages, but as he became one of them, he saw that that assumption was false.

Winterpaw was allowed to stand. Rockpaw met his cold, blue eyes inquistively.

"Who was your mentor back in your clan?" He was distracted by Wishpaw's question.

He paused for a second but then answered. "His name was Hawkstripe. He was the best cat I ever knew."

"Was?"

"I witnessed his throat get slashed by my father." No point in keeping secrets, since half the Clan knew of this already.

Wishpaw was silent.

Rockpaw's whiskers twitched. Perhaps he'd been too blunt. "But that's okay. He taught me everything I need to know to survive in this world."

"Like... fighting?"

Rockpaw shook his head. "More than just fighting. He was the cleverest cat in the clan; he...he taught me a lot." He sniffed. It was cold.

Wishpaw nodded and Rockpaw made eye contact with her for the first time. Damn, she was pretty, he realized. Then he mentally laughed at himself. What a disgusting thing to think.

"Wishpaw," Poisontongue called.

"Yes?" She was at attention immediately.

"Come here, let me see what Ashenheart's taught you."

The small she-cat nodded and walked towards Poisontongue as Winterpaw walked away. The light grey-silver, actually-tom took Wishpaw's place next to Rockpaw.

"So you're a clan cat?" he asked with his eyes on the "battle" that was starting.

Rockpaw dipped his head in the affirmative.

"What was the name again?"

"ThunderClan."

Winterpaw nodded. "Yes, but your name?"

"Rockpaw. Yours?"

"Winterpaw. Nice to meet you."

"You as well."

The silver tom flicked his tail in acknowledgement.

Wishpaw didn't last nearly as long against Poisontongue as Winterpaw did. He gave a scornful scoff when the warrior held her down only after a few seconds.

"She hasn't been an apprentice for a while, I assume," Rockpaw commented.

Winterpaw shook his head. "Only for a moon. Her brother is even worse, believe it or not."

Rockpaw laughed softly as they both watched Poisontongue and Wishpaw start again.

"Are you three the only apprentices?" he suddenly wondered. He wanted to know what to expect when he joined the rest of the apprentices in their den as Sphinxface had ordered.

Winterpaw shook his head. "There are Jestpaw and Miragepaw, both insufferable individuals. Well," he shrugged, "I guess Jestpaw is the best out of all the apprentices, even considering his constant, horrible jokes."

Rockpaw gave another small laugh.

"You don't have to be nervous about meeting them; they're hardly worth anyone's time anyways." Winterpaw's cynical attitude was starting to become quite clear. "I'll introduce you to them myself."

Rockpaw dipped his head. "Thank you."

"Yeah, don't mention it," Winterpaw said quickly. "I'm the oldest apprentice in the den, I better damn well have a sense of hospitality."

Poisontongue pinned Wishpaw to the ground again and sighed. "You'll be no match for any warrior at this rate," Rockpaw heard him say.

The she-cat growled and smacked his paw off her. "Ashenheart says I'm doing just fine!"

The warrior shook his head. "Sometimes I wonder if Ashenheart even knows what she's doing."

Wishpaw looked like she was about to argue, but Winterpaw's voice stopped her.

"Wishpaw, why don't we show Rockpaw some more of the territory?"

She seemed lke she was going to protest, but stopped herself. "Yeah, sure."

"We'll start at the stream. If that's alright?" He turned an inquiring gaze toward Poisontongue, who nodded.

"Just be careful."

Winterpaw dipped his head and led the way through the bushes. Wishpaw followed and Rockpaw came after her. They didn't seem to be all that worried about him running away, though Rockpaw supposed he wouldn't be either. How far could a wounded, starved, frozen apprentice run, anyways?

He didn't have much of an intention to run anyways. He intended to turn this unlucky circumstance to his favor, and ultimately to Dominique's ruin.

But not immediately. First he had to heal, and gain trust with SkyClan. And then, war.

Bloody, heartless, violent war.

So be it.

..

The sky was blue, the cold light of winter bearing down on the land. Rockpaw could smell the bitterness in the air and feel the frozen ground under his paws. He hated wintertime, his vision of snow always stained in red. He hated the cold. It seemed the bitterness found its way into the hearts of cats, turning them Dark and unpleasant. The winds of change were blowing in from the north, bringing with them misfortune and evil. Rockpaw was ready to change with them, whatever that meant for him. Whatever it made him become.

Hawkstripe, and the rest of ThunderClan, would be avenged.

(POV: Sinclaw)

Sinclaw entered the den with light pawsteps. Such things are what he was known for, and the tradegies that stemmed from them were what he was named for.

"You sent for me?"

"Yes." Sphinxface turned to face his adviser. "I need to speak to you, come here."

Sinclaw obliged, taking a few steps forward. "What about?"

"About Rockpaw. How's he healing?"

"Quite well. Much better than the average cat, actually."

Sphinxface nodded. "He's an interesting kit."

"Nothing more than the usual foreigner. We should let him heal and send him on his way; he'll bring nothing but trouble for us."

The leader shook his head. "No, this one is different. He's clanborn. He can show us how to get inside the other clans."

Sinclaw tilted his head, listening.

Sphinxface continued. "He says they're all currently in a state of war. What better time to attack, and devastate them?"

"But what of our land here?"

"Sinclaw, we won't need it! We'll have ShadowClan, WindClan, RiverClan, and ThunderClan land. That kit is the key to the them and I will not throw him away."

Sinclaw nodded. He did see his leader's point, but realized the absolute lack of wisdom in his plan.

"And how do you propose we take over and hold the land of four different clans with the force of one?"

Sphinxface twitched his whiskers and faced away from the medicine cat. "We'll just have to be smart about it. I wasn't named leader for nothing, you know. I am going to restore this Clan back to the strength and glory it once had."

But Sinclaw was still skeptical. "Others have tried in the past to bring the clans down. No one's ever held them for very long."

Sphinxface growled. "I am not like the others! I am destined for this! They will repent, they will give up their land, or I will burn it to the fucking ground!"

And how do you mean to do that? Sinclaw thought but didn't say. "Of course you will..."

Sphinxface sighed and seemed to calm himself. "I know you doubt me, my friend. I must sound mad when I speak. But I prove myself to all of you soon, and you will see."

Sinclaw dipped his head. "I have no doubts of your divinity, Sphinxface."

"Good. Then we will go to war."

"If you wish it."

Sphinxface nodded curtly and dismissed the medicine cat.

So be it...

Thanks for suffering through this horribly written chapter. The next chapter should be longer and better, I'm actually going to put some decent effort into it.

Also, don't be hesitant to review, rather it be advice or praise or just straight up fucking hate, it's always nice to know someone's read this :)