A/N: Yay, another update! This chapter has turned out way better than last. Hope you guys like it!
Willowstorm of SkyClan: Thank you! I just felt like I could have added so much to it and writer's block was preventing me. But now I'm over it and I feel like I've resurrected the story from the grave with this chapter.
AnonChan1: Gosh that sounds bad! Hope you're doing okay! (B) Speaking of Schrodinger... ever heard of Schrodinger's Butterfly? I'd suggest looking it up on TvTropes if you haven't. (1) Dustpelt... gosh I love him. (2) Raggedstar isn't letting her dream of StarClan or the Dark Forest, and he's not letting her dream stay in one place at one time either so she doesn't end up reality walking there. He's doing his job okayish. (3) Bluestar's been much better since the beginning and she's actually listening to Foxshadow which is good. Also, which two should probably talk about this? Fireheart and Foxshadow or Foxshadow and Bluestar? (4) Cinderpaw is so adorable. She wants to get away with murder but no one is gonna let her. (5) Ravenfeather... le sigh.
BonEpic: You're welcome! :) Here's another!
Sierra: (1) I am so glad you love Dustshadow so much! :) (2) Wow, I didn't realize I had written so many parallels to Fireheart's own besties in the series. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, but for now I'm gonna say its a good thing. (3) Cloudkit, Cloudkit, where for art thou Cloudkit? XD Also, that scenario is tots accurate. (4) Yes, Ravenfeather will have a mate one day. He's bisexual, just like Fireheart so... omg, the images that suddenly popped in my mind are so... Rated MA. Geez. Fire x Raven x Sand, anyone? That's a love triangle that's never going to happen in this story but geez does it sound interesting. Might write a oneshot on it one day. (5) Tawnykit and Bramblekit are already born, along with two siblings. I think their names are Eaglekit and Lionkit... (and together they form Griffinkit. lol) (6) Oooo, you evil person you. He would totally deserve it but sadly Swiftpaw's fate has already been decided... (7) Halfway through FOS if everything goes as planned actually. (8) Foxshadow is a mixbreed, commonly referred to as "American Long hair" but is actually a mix of Maine Coone (RiverClan's size and ThunderClan's coat standard), Ragdoll (ShadowClan's board chest) and Oriental Siamese (WindClan's head), at least if you look at her body.
Emerald the Rain-IceWing: You're welcome!
VinejaysVinewings: Patchpelt is a very young elder with server arthritis in his hips and he volunteers for the job all the time because he wants to be helpful despite not being able to hunt or leave the camp. Brindleface is still a young queen.
The sun rose and began sinking as Swiftpaw and Runningwind sparred.
Foxshadow watched them carefully as the two warriors danced, struggling to defeat each other. The past frustration was gone as the two finally began cooperating with each other, with Runningwind pausing every few seconds to get his breath and to correct Swiftpaw's form or focus. At this distant, she could barely hear their words and she carefully made her way around the clearing so she could overhear them. Neither of the cats looked up at her hiding place and she made a mental note to educate them about that later. Her gaze swept the clearing every few heartbeats, listening for the any unnatural silence which could announce the arrival of the fox.
A lull in the sparring match drew Foxshadow's attention back to Swiftpaw and Runningwind, curious.
"Runningwind," said Swiftpaw quietly. "Can I ask why you like Foxshadow so much?"
Foxshadow's tail twitched curiously and she stretched out her paws as she laid down on her perch.
"What brought this on?" Runningwind meowed, quickly glancing around.
Swiftpaw shot his mentor a quick glare, shoulders tensing, before he forced himself to relax. "I've been meaning to ask. "
"Foxshadow is a great strategist and fighter," mewed Runningwind. "I've known since she was an apprentice. Now, about that last spar...?"
"But how did you know?" meowed Swiftpaw, frustrated. "What did she do as an apprentice?"
Runningwind sat down, frowning. "You remember that time we went to the ShadowClan camp?"
"Yeah, but you turned back after you saw Brokenstar escaping."
Runningwind shifted. "Uh, yeah, that's right." He looked down at his paws.
Swiftpaw stared at Runningwind, fur spiking in surprise. "That didn't really happen, did it?"
Up in her tree, Foxshadow tensed in preparation to spring down and interrupt their conversation, her mind racing. If Swiftpaw learned of what the ThunderClan patrol did, he might tell someone at a Gathering. Even if they don't dismiss him just because he's an apprentice, doesn't mean it won't bring the whole incident to someone's attention - and who know was out there with the same inquisitive spirit as Fireheart?
But a part of her was also curious to see where Runningwind went with this. If it could repair their relationship, could it be a good thing to reveal what really happened? Foxshadow glanced around subconsciously, wondering who else might be around spying on their conversation.
The silvered brown tabby lashed his tail as he stared at the ground before finally lifting his head. "No, that isn't what happened."
"Then what did happen?" Swiftpaw asked, curiously.
"I'm not allowed to talk about it," Runningwind meowed. "Foxshadow, Ravenfeather, Fireheart and Graystripe were all apprentices then. They had gone ahead into ShadowClan territory on Bluestar's orders to look for Yellowfang. She had wanted to help ShadowClan when Brokenstar was still in control. A patrol was already being gathered to go into ShadowClan territory and attack them because of how they tried to steal Mistlekit."
Foxshadow shifted in surprise, eyes wide. She hadn't expected Runningwind to know that. How observant was the young warrior? Or could Bluestar or Whitestorm have told them?
"We found Foxshadow and the others hiding nearby the camp with a few of the ShadowClan elders who had been kicked out. We all planned to sneak into the camp to take back the kit but Foxshadow had a better idea. To prevent the good-hearted warriors of ShadowClan from attacking us and to prevent anyone from realizing we were involved in the attack, Foxpaw thought we should disguise our scent using the marshwater. When we attacked the camp, we were unrecognizable. Brokenstar mistook one of our number for Raggedstar. It was during that fight that I realized that StarClan stood by Foxshadow."
Foxshadow felt confused. Didn't Runningwind realize that Brokenstar had mistaken her for Raggedstar?
Runningwind looked up towards the stars. "Afterwards, when we made it back to ThunderClan territory, we washed off in the stream. We were elated and wanted to return to camp right away to tell them what we had done, but Foxshadow stopped us. She told us that StarClan themselves had a paw in the attack and that it would undo everything StarClan had been trying to do if we claimed that ThunderClan was involved with the attack. Whitestorm must have seen wisdom in this and so we promised to keep silent on the whole affair. When we returned to camp, Fireheart told Yellowfang about what had been decided and she backed us up."
Swiftpaw seemed to collapse under this news in shock. "StarClan is working with Foxshadow?"
Runningwind flicked his tail nervously. "Yes. You can't tell anyone of what I've told you. Bluestar herself agreed that no one outside of our patrol should know. It is StarClan's will."
The black and white apprentice stared at Runningwind, despair in his eyes. "No wonder you're head over tail for her."
The warrior jolted in shock. "W-what?" His blue eyes flickered around for any sign of Dustpelt but he couldn't see him anywhere. "I have no interest in her in that way at all!"
Swiftpaw had gone quiet, his voice soft and tail drooping. "I'm done training for today."
Runningwind stared at Swiftpaw for a long awkward moment before he nodded. "Okay." The gray-and-brown tabby turned and padded up to the top of the Sandy Hollow slope. "I will see you here tomorrow, Swiftpaw."
"Yeah, okay," muttered Swiftpaw, before rising to his paws to follow.
Foxshadow watched them disappear into the forest and sighed. It was hard to see the apprentice's hopes of becoming as strong as her dashed before her very eyes. It was impossible to become like someone with StarClan on their side.
Unless he has a chance to beat me in battle, he's never going to believe he can be a worthy warrior of ThunderClan.
Foxshadow flicked her tail thoughtfully and scrambled down the tree to follow after them. Tomorrow, she had training here with Brackenpaw and she could test Swiftpaw's skills personally then.
I wonder if Dustpelt will change his mind about Runningwind if he knew why Runningwind liked me so much, she wondered before shaking her head. If Dustpelt wouldn't believe that Brokenstar was a bigger threat than RiverClan, then he won't believe this either. Better to let him figure out his own feelings and stop his jealous rampages on his own.
It was approaching dusk when Foxshadow returned to camp and she realized belatedly that she hadn't brought anything back. She gave herself a few thoughtful licks and flattened her ears in discomfort at having to face them. She sucked in a breath and padded through the bramble tunnel, glancing around quickly to take in everyone who was there. Willowpelt was outside the nursery alongside Brindleface and both were eating a squirrel. Tigerclaw was beneath the Great Rock, his amber eyes narrowed and watching carefully. Foxshadow padded towards him, her mind racing with an explanation.
"I watched Swiftpaw sparring today," she meowed in greeting, glancing at the feathers at Tigerclaw's paws. "I believe he is ready to be made a warrior and I have an idea of what his warrior assessment should be."
"That explains why you brought back no prey," meowed Tigerclaw, licking his paw. "But you should be focusing on your own apprentice instead of Runningwind's."
Foxshadow lashed her tail. "That is my business, now isn't it, Tigerclaw? Can you trust me?"
Tigerclaw flexed his claws and narrowed his eyes. "Very well. What do you propose his warrior assessment be?"
"He will fight me," meowed Foxshadow. "One on one."
The dark warrior perked his ears and stared at her. He suddenly chuckled. "You surprise me, Foxshadow."
Foxshadow tilted her head. "What do you mean?"
"I was expecting something less... challenging," Tigerclaw meowed quickly. "You must see true greatness within Swiftpaw."
"Swiftpaw needs to fight me in order for his confidence to be restored." Foxshadow narrowed her eyes back at Tigerclaw. "He will never be a good warrior without that."
"I see," meowed Tigerclaw, his whiskers drooping in a frown. "I will tell Bluestar at once."
The massive she-cat frowned. "Why should Bluestar know?"
"You want to keep this between us?" Tigerclaw asked curiously.
Foxshadow felt her thoughts spin in a whirlwind. She could remember his words, how he said she would make a good deputy. His deputy. "I trust you, Tigerclaw."
"More than you trust Bluestar?"
"Yes," meowed Foxshadow, perhaps a touch too quickly. Her lips curled and she lowered her voice. "I would never trust a kit-killer."
Tigerclaw nodded. "That is understandable." He waved his tail dismissively. "Tell me once Swiftpaw's warrior ceremony is done."
She bowed her head. "Thank you, Tigerclaw."
As she turned to leave, Tigerclaw stopped her. "And Foxshadow, you may eat if you wish."
Foxshadow dipped her head again and quickly padded over to the freshkill pile, grabbing the nearest red squirrel before walking towards the front of the warrior den. With winter approaching, the freshkill pile was looking a little low, but she already had plans tomorrow. Perhaps Ravenfeather and Fireheart could...?
She shook herself. No, they were on fox lookout duty. She had to get rid of that fox before anything else could happen. Her claws racked the ground. If Swiftpaw succeeded in his warrior assessment, she take all of them over to Lion's Trap for those rabbits. If that fox hadn't chased them all off...
Foxshadow growled to herself. That fox needed to be chased off and soon.
As dawn arrived, Foxshadow crawled out of the warrior's den, looked around purposefully for her apprentice and found him just as he crawled out of his den. Brackenpaw looked up at her and immediately brightened in excitement.
"Are we training today?"
Foxshadow nodded. "We leave at once."
Brackenpaw nodded and made for the freshkill but halted when he realized that Foxshadow was already heading out of the bramble tunnel and quickly followed after her. Foxshadow glanced back at him.
"We are going to hunt in the tree tops on our way to the Sandy Hollow. We won't return until dusk so we should leave the prey in the freshkill pile for someone else," Foxshadow meowed, before launching herself up the nearest tree.
Foxshadow turned and watched Brackenpaw scramble up another tree and then began racing through the tree tops, ears perked and eyes open for the flash of grey or red of a bushy tree rat. Foxshadow saw a few skittering up a tree in a territorial dance. She flashed her tail at Brackenpaw, who was struggling to stay on a branch he had just leaped on, and gestured to the squirrels. Brackenpaw nodded, his legs trembling, as he forced himself to leap to the next tree. Foxshadow watched him carefully to see if he had his balance before turning her attention back to the squirrels. She leaped into the tree and cut off their only exit, leaped after a squrriel and landing squarely on its back. A heartbeat later, Brackenpaw landed a few fox-lengths away on the other squirrel.
"Let's take them up into the trees and eat," meowed Foxshadow. "You still need to work on your tree climbing."
"Yes, sir," meowed Brackenpaw, bounding up the tree and balancing precariously on the second lowest branch.
Foxshadow followed and settled on the lowest branch, before chewing and swallowing her meal almost whole. Excitement buzzed through her legs and she shifted eagerly on the branch, her gaze drifting to Brackenpaw, who was concentrating so hard on eating the squirrel and not falling off the branch that he didn't notice Foxshadow had already finished.
"I'll eat what you don't eat," meowed Foxshadow, licking a paw.
Brackenpaw looked at her and her paws and flattened his ears. "Did you eat the whole thing?"
"Yes," meowed Foxshadow, realizing that it might not be something these cats do. "As a rogue, you'd never know where your next meal came from. Better to eat everything and vomit the inedible bits later."
A look of disgust flashed across the young pale brown tabby's face and he quickly looked away. "Sounds horrible," he meowed through what Foxshadow guessed was a rolling stomach.
She softened. "It's life Brackenpaw." She glanced up at the sky. "Let's head to the Sandy Hollow."
She bounded across the branch like a squirrel and leaped into the next tree. She glanced back to see Brackenpaw steadying himself to attempt the same feat, legs trembling. She frowned.
"We can travel on the ground until you're ready, Brackenpaw," meowed Foxshadow. "This skill is just for scouting out the land when you know you're enemy is on the ground."
Brackenpaw seemed almost relieved but he quickly hid it. "I can keep going."
Foxshadow purred. "You've been an apprentice for two and three-quarter moons now, right?"
The young tom nodded, ears flicking. "I hear some other cats already in the Sandy Hollow."
"That would be Runningwind and Swiftpaw." Foxshadow gestured for Brackenpaw to follow. "Swiftpaw's warrior assessment is today and I want your opinion of it."
Brackenpaw nodded and they padded down the slopes of Sandy Hollow onto the sandy floor below. Runningwind and Swiftpaw paused in their sparring at Foxshadow's appearance, curious.
"Today, Runningwind," meowed the big she-cat. "Is Swiftpaw's warrior assessment."
Runningwind perked up and lifted his head in excitement and pride. "Really?"
His apprentice shifted beside him. "What is it going to be on?"
Foxshadow gestured for Brackenpaw to step up beside Runningwind. "You two are going to watch."
"What am I going to do?" asked the black and white tom impatiently, glancing around.
"Your warrior assessment is simple," meowed Foxshadow turned her back to the tom and padded a good distance away before facing him. She tensed and crouched, ready to fight. "You have to defeat me in battle."
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to leave a review! Wish you all the best of luck til next weekend!
- S.I.S.