Ok heres chp. 27! I hope to update sometime tomorrow! Stay tuned ;D

Chapter 27

Swiftstar spat viciously as he raced after the scent Splinterkit had left.

His heart pounded with fear, but his mind was firm. What if this happened to one of his kits, or one of Luna's kits? His blood boiled, and the new leader sped up his pace desperately. "Swiftstar! Swiftstar wait!"

Swiftstar glanced over his shoulder, and saw Stoneclaw. A pair of toms followed him, one speckled brown, and the other bluish gray. Swiftstar recognized both Luna's brothers. "They say they know you." Explained Stoneclaw.

"Greetings Swiftstar, Luna said you were the only cat left in the forest who we could trust. Will you accept us?" Adder spoke up.

Swiftstar hesitated, before dipping his head, "I know I can trust you."

Stoneclaw stared at him, "You can't be serious! This flea-bitten brood will never fit in!"

Swiftstar ignored him, and told the toms, "Oh, we hid him in some heather." Pepper replied simply.

Swiftstar raised his hackles, "You stole him?"

Adder put in hastily, "No, Horizon did. She just told us. Come quickly."

The group flew across the flat land, before Adder stopped them. He nosed some thick grasses away to reveal Splinterkit sitting glumly. He mumbled, "It's not fair! They said they'd play chase with me!"

Swiftstar sighed with relief. He looked back up at the rouges, "Thanks again. You can come back to camp with us."

Stoneclaw looked ready to protest, but Swiftstar ignored his brother and carefully lifted Splinterkit by his scruff. The tiny brown tom squeaked in protest, but Swiftstar grunted, "Do you want to be taken away again?"

Splinterkit stopped abruptly, and Stoneclaw shrugged, padding behind the others. When they finally reached the camp, Lightningfang rushed to greet them. She licked Splinterkit ferociously, until she caught sight of the two rouge brothers. Letting out a small screech she fell back wards, hauling Splinterkit with and shrieking, "What are you doing here you filthy creatures?"

Swiftstar soothed, "It's alright, they found Splinterkit. This is Adder and Pepper, our latest members."

Lightningfang narrowed her eyes, but grabbed her son and padded back to the nursery. When the newcomers entered the camp, every cat stopped dead in their tracks. Swiftstar climbed atop the Meetingstone, and began, "Cats of Moonclan, we have among us two newcomers. Welcome Pepper and Adder. Without their help, Splinterkit would be lost. It is their wish to become full members, and I see no reason to deny them acceptance. If they might step forward, I will now give them their warrior names."

The rouges eagerly padded towards the Meetingstone, while the other cats snarled in outrage. "Spirits of Starclan I ask you to look down upon the cats. I wish to grant them acceptance into this clan by giving them warrior names. Pepper, Adder, do you promise to uphold the warrior code? And to defend this clan even at the cost of your life?"

Pepper nodded, "Yeah!"

Adder dipped his head, "I do."

"Then by the powers of Starclan I give you your warrior names. Pepper from this moment onward you shall be known as Spottedcloud. Starclan honors your strength and cunning, and we welcome you as a full member of Moonclan. Adder you will be known as Rockshadow. Starclan honors your skills and courage, and we welcome you as a warrior of Moonclan."

The new warriors turned back to stare blankly at their clanmates. The other cats however shifted uncomfortably, some whispering. Shadowflight rose to her paws, and called out, "Spottedcloud! Rockshadow!"

Slowly, the others followed her lead, and the new names rang out across the clearing. Swiftstar sighed with relief, and glanced up at the sky. He could picture Luna, beaming at him, and as he padded down he heard her soft voice, "Thank you."

-Five moons later…-

Swiftstar waited for his brother to leave the nursery before he headed inside. His mother had given birth to three kits a day ago, but she was back to her normal self. Her kits were strange in that two were identical black she-cats, and a third tom with pale brown fur. Eaglewing looked up as Swiftstar popped his head in. she rasped, "I've been waiting for you! I have decided to name the two she-cats Fernkit and Brackenkit. I want our new leader to name his brother."

Swiftstar rumbled, "I shall call him, Mudkit. He looks like he has muddy paws"

"Yes, I like that!" agreed Eaglewing, gazing fondly at the tiny tom.

Stormwater poked his head into the den, and hissed, "Swiftstar, the clan is waiting."

Swiftstar nodded, before glancing over at Larkwing, nursing her only son, a large brawny gray tom with broad shoulders. Swiftstar could see Cinderclaw was the father, but the tom hadn't visited Larkwing once. Sighing, Swiftstar clambered up the Meetingstone. When he reached the top, the clan was already assembled, Lightningfang smoothing her kits' fur. "Yellowkit, Splinterkit, step forward. Yellowpaw I think-,"

Yellowpaw interrupted him, "Sorry Swiftstar…I want to be a Mountain-chaser!"

The warriors gasped, and Swiftstar could see the connection Yellowpaw had with Rockshadow. The new warrior had requested to learn the skills of a Mountain-chaser, and he became a full time mountain warrior soon after. Swiftstar went on, "Very well, Yellowpaw, your mentor will be Rockshadow. Splinterpaw you will learn from Hawkfeather."

Swiftstar had decided to give one apprentice a senior warrior in case Rockshadow and Spottedcloud were plotting something. He shook his head to clear it as the two apprentices rushed to touch noses with their mentors. The older apprentices had matured into fine young cats, in particular Rainpaw. Swiftstar saw in him a mixture of Luna and himself. It wouldn't be long before their warrior ceremony. I'll have to divide their ceremony, Swiftstar decided glumly.

As he made his way up the mountain, Swiftstar heard pawsteps behind him. Ivypool was following at a short trot, easily avoiding each rock. She reached the leader, and rasped, "Beautiful isn't it? When we first discovered this mountain we named it Mt. Talon, because it used to be infested with eagles and buzzards. After a while though, they left, and we took over, forgetting the name and just calling it, our mountain."

Swiftstar nodded, "This Mountain holds some of my oldest and dearest memories."

The two sat for a moment, gazing at the huge stone hill in silence. Ivypool sighed, "Well, I'm going to bed. I'll see you tomorrow."

Swiftstar dipped his head at her, but stopped when he tasted the air. Something wasn't right. A cat somewhere was yowling, and there was also the screech of a buzzard.