Thanks for the reviews! c': Still having trouble thinking that I got 100 reviews. O.O Also, I like Linnea's character too. xD And I didn't even mean for their relationship to seem like Firestar/Sandstorm's early one lol, it actually just sort of progressed into that. I didn't even mean for them to be mates at the start of the story. Oh well, I think they're adorable. c':

Anyway, I noticed that we hadn't heard from ThunderClan in a while! So this chapter will be completely set in ThunderClan's P.O.V!


"I, Whitestar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn." Whitestar meowed loudly. "Stormpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

Stormpaw stared seriously up at his leader. "I do."

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Stormpaw, from this moment you will be known as Stormhawk. StarClan honors your intelligence and determination, and we welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan." Whitestar rested his muzzle on the gray tabby's head, and the newly named Stormhawk licked his shoulder.

"Stormhawk! Berrywhisker! Stormhawk! Berrywhisker!" Cheers and calls of welcome and excitement thundered through the groups of cats as they gazed at their new warriors, eyes shining with happiness.

Stormhawk leapt off and shouldered through the crowd, his eyes looking for only one cat. Willowpaw. The pale gray tabby purred a greeting, and nudged his shoulder with her nose. "Congratulations on becoming a warrior." She murmured lightly. Her eyes clouded over with grief. "If only Fallenpaw was here with us… he would be able to congratulate you as well."

Stormhawk buried his muzzle in her shoulder fur, his eyes clouded over as well. He twined their tales momentarily, not in a romantic sort of way, but in a way that he hoped would make her feel better. He had a nagging feeling that Fallenpaw was alive, and still out there somewhere. He glanced past Willowpaw, wondering if his best friend was standing, sodden and freezing at the edge of a Thunderpath. Or if he was dead, his body lying mangled. Or if he was lost somewhere in a forest, unable to get out. He knew Fallenpaw wouldn't abandon them, but he also knew that Fallenpaw wouldn't be coming back. At least, not anytime soon.

"I know." He meowed softly, burying his muzzle in her shoulder fur. "I know." Willowpaw had given him companionship since Pricklepaw, Petalpaw and Fallenpaw had all left him. He often thought about the broad-shouldered silver and black tabby tom, and wondered if perhaps he had left the clans to start a family with Emberstrike? He had been padding after the fiery ginger she-cat lately, well, last time he saw him at least. He squeezed his eyes shut.

"Vigil." Sunfeather reminded him as she passed by. He gazed affectionately at his old mentor, so relieved that she had given him the warrior assessment and he had passed. There had been peace since the battle with ShadowClan, and he was sure that there would be no new threats. In a quarter moon would be the gathering, he wondered if he would go. He probably would, after all, he was a new warrior and they would be calling out his name.

"Bye." Willowpaw nodded at him as Stormhawk smiled softly at her, flicking her ear with his tail and pulling away. He padded towards the entrance of the camp, and sat there. He saw Berrywhisker sitting next to him, and was shocked at how emotionless he felt towards his own brother. He didn't hate Berrywhisker, but they weren't close like when they were kits. Losing Petalpaw had somehow shattered their close bond, but seeing how cruel and stuck-up he was now, he wasn't sure that he wanted that close bond back.

"Finally warriors, huh?" Berrywhisker's hushed voice broke through his thoughts.

"We aren't supposed to talk in our vigil." Stormhawk grunted, shushing his brother. He lay down, his paws tucked underneath his chest. He forced himself to stay awake as he glanced into the forest, ready for any intruders to come and attack.

"You're so lucky you have an awesome name like that." Berrywhisker's envious tone jolted him back into focus on his brother. He stifled a snarl of sheer frustration and scraped his claws over the dirt. They were going to get into big trouble if his brother didn't shut his mouth. "I mean, whisker, really? I was hoping for something tough like Berrystrike or Berryclaw."

"Be grateful you even have your name, mouse-brain." Stormhawk retorted, his eyes blazing with frustration. How could his brother be so narrow-minded that he was actually complaining about his very own warrior name? If he hated it that much, he should at least go talk to Whitestar, not him. Stormhawk shuddered as he thought about Whitestar. The white tom was getting pretty fragile, and he knew that soon there would be a Tigerstar, leader of ThunderClan. He longed for a deputy position, but he knew he couldn't since he hadn't even gotten an apprentice yet. Sighing, he flattened himself closer to the ground, his tail swishing softly through the grass.

"Look, Stormhawk…" Berrywhisker meowed again. Stormhawk snarled at his brother, his eyes blazing in anger. Why couldn't his brother just stop being such a stuck-up mouse-brain for once, and do as the warrior code had said? "I know you're thinking about Petalpaw." His voice was slightly choked with emotion.

Shock lanced through Stormhawk at what his brother said. Partly because he actually wasn't thinking about his pretty silver sister, and partly because Berrywhisker was showing emotion. He stayed silent, unwilling to say anything to his brother. Now, all he could think about was Petalpaw. A stab of sadness jolted through his chest, and he swallowed a hard lump in his throat as he thought about his sister. She should have become a warrior as well. She should have been called Petalfern, a name she had always wanted and talked about getting with him.

"She probably has earned her warrior name in StarClan, if that makes you feel better." Berrywhisker murmured softly. "I know you think I don't miss her, but I do. I miss her everyday. I wish she was here by our side during this vigil."

Stormhawk's eyes blazed with fury. "Then why don't you be quiet and respect it, you dumb mouse-brain?" He snarled, his pelt bristling. "You did nothing! Nothing! You left me alone, all alone. I was so sad and depressed, and you just left me there. You went off with Mosspaw and became some sort of jerk. I'll never." His eyes blazed. "Never, forgive you for that."

Berrywhisker stared at him, obviously astounded. They fell into an appalled silence, and just lay there, waiting out their vigil. Stormhawk sighed, his exhaustion making his eyelids heavy. He wished Fallenpaw was here, so he could tell him about his fall-out with Berrywhisker. So they could laugh at the fact that he had gotten a more tough name than his brother. But he wasn't. Stormhawk knew that his best friend would return one day. He scraped his claws over the dirt. I'll wait for you, Fallenpaw. He vowed, glaring up defiantly at Silverpelt as if daring StarClan to disapprove. You were a true friend.

~•~•~•~•~•~

Whitestar lay wearily in his den, his head in his paws. As he did every night, he wondered where two of his best fighters and fiercest cats had gone. Emberstrike and Fallenpaw. Surely they couldn't have left the clans for good? Some spark of loyalty must have lit their chest at least, a spark to ThunderClan? Sighing, he lay down. Something dark was coming, he could feel it in his bones. He was afraid for his clan, his noble and brave clanmates. His eyelids fluttered shut.

"Bramblestar!" Whitestar gasped, bounding forward and racing towards the dark brown tabby tom. "Talk to me, please!" He begged, his claws raking across the ground. He felt another presence, and glancing to his right, he saw the familiar cream furred pelt of his faithful medicine cat, Dawnriver. She exchanged a slightly fearful glance with him.

The dark brown tabby tom whirled around, his eyes dull. Swallowing a gasp of shock, Whitestar looked at his unfit state. His fur was thin and patchy, and his ribs were showing. Every rib. Then, deciding it was about time to look around him, Whitestar took in his surroundings. The once-beautiful and everlasting greenleaf of StarClan had faded, and they were thrown into their first ever leaf-bare. They had been in leaf-fall, sure, but never had his starry ancestors been in leaf-bare.

"Bramblestar?" Dawnriver meowed worriedly, taking a shaky step forward.

The dark brown tabby glared at them, his amber eyes blazing with fury. "You should have taught him more… Should have given him more than just Emberstrike to protect himself. What if he changes his mind? What if he vows revenge on ThunderClan?" Bramblestar snarled, thrusting his muzzle in Whitestar's face. The white tom-cat recoiled in shock, almost tripping over his own paws.

"Wh-what are you talking about?" Whitestar stammered, his blue eyes gleaming with surprise. Bramblestar had never been so aggressive before, and he found it startling. What was more terrifying, was the way he was talking. Was he possibly talking about… Fallenpaw? "Are you talking about Fallenpaw?"

With a bellow of rage, Bramblestar lunged at Whitestar. He wrapped his large brown paws around Whitestar, and thrust him to the ground, swiftly pinning him down. "Of course I'm talking about Fallenpaw!" He roared, plucking Whitestar from the ground and throwing him into the air. The white tom let out a surprised gasp as he flew through the air and thudded heavily on the ground, winded.

"You were a young leader when Demonpaw was there…" A pale blue furred she-cat appeared out of the shadows, shaking her head in sorrow. Her dark blue eyes glimmered with sadness, and Whitestar sucked in a horrified gasp as he looked at how thin she was. "The cats that are ancient and aren't as well remembered as us are fading, Whitestar. They're fading." The she-cat's eyes glimmered with sadness and grief. "Mosskit, Brindleface, Goldenflower… They're all gone. All of them."

"Wh-what?" Dawnriver stuttered, her blue eyes round as moons. "But at the half-moon, you gave no warning."

"It doesn't matter!" Bramblestar howled angrily, unsheathing his claws. "Whitestar, how could you let history repeat itself!" His voice trembled. "I don't even know if Fallenpaw will choose to help the clans or not, after we tell him the truth."

"What are you talking about?" Whitestar meowed, astonished. "Demonpaw? She was from so long ago… I remember her and her blood-red eyes clearly."

"You fool!" Bluestar hissed, shaking her head. "You're neglect, your cruel tormenting of Demonpaw, now Demonstar had resulted in BloodClan. We didn't think it would be a threat, no we didn't, until he came along. Fallenpaw. We had to steal his memories, and we sent him to ThunderClan! How could you not welcome him immediately? Provide him the companionship he so desperately sought."

"Demonstar?" Dawnriver's voice was thin and terrified. "BloodClan?"

"Yes BloodClan! Demonpaw has risen, and created her own clan. She is seeking revenge, and Fallenpaw was the key…" Bramblestar shook his head, as if confused on how Whitestar couldn't see it. His eyes were slightly misty and far-away. "How could you not see…?"

"How could you not warn me!" Whitestar yowled at them, tearing his claws at the pale, wilting yellow grass beneath his paws. It was unfair! They were blaming it on him? Demonpaw was his mistake, sure, but he was a naive young tom back then. He was hardly ready to lead a clan, and with her blood-red eyes he wasn't sure what else to call her.

"How could we warn you? Warn you and cause panic throughout your clan?" Bluestar whispered, her tail flicking in horror. "Emberstrike is Fallenpaw's tie to the clans. If that tie breaks… prepare yourself for the extinction of the clans." She shook her head gravely. "Our fate lies in his paws."

"I did welcome him." Whitestar protested. "He had friends! Stormhawk, Willowpaw, Dawnriver, me…" His voice trailed off as he realized the meager amount of friends Fallenpaw had in his own clan. "Cats were tolerating him!"

"Yes." Bramblestar snarled. "Tolerating!" He shook his head in rage.

Bluestar glowered at them.

Dawnriver pressed against Whitestar and the two cats shrunk back, struggling to hide against the two ancient leader's rage. This was all news to Whitestar, and the large white tom was still having problems realizing and understanding what was really happening. So soon, the clans were to be launched back into a war?

"Enough." A tom growled, sliding out through the shadows. His pelt glowed like a flame, and Whitestar sucked in a gasp of awe. The fiery colored tom. Firestar.

"Greetings, Firestar." Dawnriver murmured, and dipped her head. Swiftly, Whitestar dipped his head to the noble ThunderClan leader as well.

"Bluestar, Bramblestar. I believe they know what they have done wrong." Firestar meowed firmly, swinging his head around to fix the two in a glare. Bramblestar fell silent, but Bluestar's eyes blazed as if she was to continue. Suddenly, the fire in her eyes faded.

"I don't know what to do." Bluestar meowed, her voice choked. "Mosskit is gone, and Stonefur is fading… fading so fast."

"There is nothing to do." Firestar meowed. "Demonstar chose Fallenpaw for a different reason then us. She chose him because he had his anger. We chose him because he was loyal. He isn't angry anymore, all thanks to Emberstrike. We must have faith in him." The fiery ginger tom's voice was charismatic and calming, but Whitestar's tail still twitched agitatedly.

"What can I do?" He asked painfully.

"Nothing that you usually don't do. We have sent a warning to each of the clan leaders, only we did not mention any names with them. We have just warned them to increase their battle skills, and to toughen up their training." Firestar meowed solemnly, his green eyes gleaming. "That is all you can do."

"We haven't enough herbs to treat all the wounded if the training is too harsh." Dawnriver protested.

Bluestar's eyes glittered coldly. "Then get some!" She snarled, her pelt bristling. "This is not just some battle skirmish. This is war."

"You can talk to the other medicine cats about it at the gathering." Firestar murmured. "I believe they were told of the warning as well."

Bramblestar sighed wearily, cutting into the conversation about herbs. "I'm sorry for exploding at you… it's just, if Fallenpaw doesn't make the right choice and the clans fall…" He fixed Whitestar with a piercing amber glare. "It will be all your fault."

Whitestar felt numb as he listened to Bramblestar's meow.

It will be all your fault.

~•~•~•~•~•~

Whitestar stretched, yawning. He peeked out of his den, gazing upon his clanmates down below. Some were chatting, sharing fresh-kill, some were scuffling. He gazed fondly at Pantherlight's kits, Nightkit and Spottedkit. Nightkit was an all black tom, while Spottedkit was a white and black dappled she-cat. They would make fine warriors some day. His bright mood was harshened as Dawnriver caught his eye from her den, and made her way up to Highledge.

Tigerstorm looked surprised at this, and bunching up his muscles he also padded upwards, following Dawnriver up the winding trail to Highledge.

"Hey, Whitestar." Tigerstorm greeted, his eyes shining brightly. He flicked his ears in a friendly greeting, and then frowned at Dawnriver. "Is there something we should talk about?"

"No." Whitestar responded curtly. "I need to just talk to Dawnriver privately in my den. Assign cats to fetch the patrols back, I want everyone in camp for a clan meeting as soon as possible. Hunting and patrolling will just have to wait."

Tigerstorm looked bewildered, but dipped his head. "Okay." He meowed, brushing past Dawnriver and scrambling down the rocks. Whitestar gazed at his loyal deputy as he called at his cats, his tail flicking and voice commanding.

"We have to prepare for the war." Whitestar murmured, leading Dawnriver into his den.

"My supplies!" Dawnriver meowed desperately.

"We won't be fighting with claws unsheathed or anything. We will just be doing more battle practice then normal, and we'll retrain some of the warriors." He reassured her. "Besides, I doubt the battle will be in less than a moon if it does come. It is probably not that close, else more of the StarClan cats will be gone." He didn't quite believe his own words, but they seemed to be reassuring his sensitive medicine cat.

"Alright." She agreed. "That seems to make sense." She turned around to go, but then suddenly stopped. She twisted her face so she could look at him. "And one more thing, don't worry yourself to death about what Bramblestar said. Fallenpaw may have been a rogue, but he's a loyal tom, and I'm sure he'll make the right choice."

"Maybe." Whitestar grunted. He didn't sound convinced. But then again, he wasn't. "Oh, yeah," He called after the medicine cat. Dawnriver turned around to face him. "Start growing the herbs as well as you can. You can bring warriors with you everyday to protect them, perhaps maybe flick the frost off of them so they grow better?"

"Alright." She dipped her head before bounding down the steps and into the clearing.

Whitestar's heart twisted in his chest as he looked at his warriors. They were all so brave and loyal, but they were probably tired. The leaf-fall was harsh, and opening his mouth, he could taste the icy and coldness of leaf-bare on the wind. It would come soon. "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather around Highledge!" He called.

He watched as Tigerstorm stared at him curiously, but the deputy had done well. All of the cats were in front of him, and he could recognize them. Dappleleaf, Jayleaf, Stormhawk, Hazelcloud… He waited for silence to pass through the warriors, and sat edgily on top of Highledge, trying to ignore their curious stares burning into his pelt.

"I…" His voice sounded slightly weak and trembling, even to him. Murmurs of worry and slight fear rippled throughout his cats, and he shook his head before pulling himself up straighter. "I believe that with leaf-bare coming, the other clans might attack us. ThunderClan, as we all know, has the best territory and most strongest warriors, so of course the other clans would be jealous of us. They might try to take what is ours, and attack us. We must be prepared for this, so I have decided." He shifted his paws awkwardly. "That everyone, from the youngest apprentice to the most senior warrior, will be revising and practicing their battle moves constantly."

Meows of shock and worry passed through his clan, but he knew what he had lied about made sense. It was believable that other clans would want their territory, and by saying that ThunderClan was the best, the other cats would be bound to agree. All of his warriors had the same instinct to be the best as possible, and with the standard of better than all the other clans he had just set for them, it would drive their determination to practice harder. Or so he hoped.

"We will be practicing tree-climbing and fighting, partner fighting, leaping from the trees, and a few other techniques." He meowed, his voice ringing around the clearing.

He saw Dawnriver give him a small but firm nod of approval.

"ThunderClan will be prepared for any battles!" He let his voice be louder, and it turned into something more as a shout. "ThunderClan will be the best!" He gazed at his warriors, relief seeping through him as he saw a few of them exchange excited glances. "ThunderClan!"

"ThunderClan! ThunderClan! ThunderClan!" His warriors shouted and yowled, their voices so loud they could even reach StarClan.

Poor Whitestar, I actually feel kind of bad for him. ): Oh well. :D

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