Foxbracken, your one-shot submission will be answered...later. ;3

As for the rest, I'll try to include them before the story's over!

A BIG THANKS FOR 100+ REVIEWS! XD

Probably about...10 chapters? Maybe. We'll see.

Chapter 47: The Encounters

Blazescar's body was buried when they returned to camp, and for the rest of the night, the camp was in eerie silence. Darkshard was not seen for the rest of the night, banishing herself to her den.

Shatter was sent on a border patrol, mostly for her to escape the quiet camp. The sound of paws trampling over dirt relaxed her nerves and tense muscles.

Soon, the patrol met up with one from Windclan. Chill and Spiderpelt were discussing battle strategy.

"We found a fallen tree that lies across the gorge. Riverclan doesn't know about it. I think we are planning to slowly move our border into Riverclan, then attack and occupy them." Spiderpelt flicked her tail.

"Do with them whatever you wish. We must focus on Bloodclan." Chill replied gruffly.

While the two bickered some more, Shatter felt as if a spider was crawling up her spine. She turned, seeing a tiny apprentice staring at her. Frowning, Shatter rolled her shoulders and hissed slightly, trying to intimidate the scrawny little furball. The golden gleam never left the Manx's glazed eyes.

So many thoughts flooded into Halfpaw's head. Her head was swimming, and she felt like the words that fell like rain drops were drowning her!

Sighterette. Ability to see what has happened with a 'trigger', usually a scent or spoken words.

Soon, they overlapped so much she could only make out a few words.

Lapainious. Ability to inflict-

-Quidied. Ability to-

-pain-

-Notafear-

-speak to-

-fear is pushed-

She wanted to scream out; it was just too much and she couldn't look away. The words continued to steal the breath from her lungs as her eyes remained transfixed on the mysterious she.

Suddenly, the words stopped.

Shatter shrugged. "I have no clue. It's kind of creepy. She just keeps staring at me."

Sand frowned. "Wait, she seems to have found her bearings."

The Manx blinked, and her golden swirls that had previously danced in her eyes had vanished. The she frowned, confused. She looked at Shatter curiously. Shatter bared her teeth.

"Don't stare at me like that again, kit."

The kit, instead of fighting back like any other cat would have at being called so young, meekly dipped her head in shame. "I-I'm sorry. It's just-"

"Come on, Halfpaw." Spiderpelt called, turning tail and heading back toward the swaying grasses of the moor. Halfpaw blinked in farewell to the Bloodclan patrol and scampered after, jumping into the tall weeds after her clanmates.

"That was odd." Sand commented quietly.

"Yes. Quite." Shatter agreed. "Let's go." The two cats followed Chill and Bracken back toward the camp. As soon as their paws were in the clearing, Darkshard called for a meeting.

"I have received news that we will meet with Bloodclan in the morning. Be ready, Elites." The group nodded.

"We also mourn the loss of my beloved Blazescar. May the Dark Forest shelter him."

The clan repeated the phrase, and the chill swept over Shatter again. The way that it was perfectly in sync disturbed her.

After they were dismissed, Shatter headed toward the Elite den, when Lunaclaw stopped her.

"Hey Shatter. I need to, um, see you in my den. I need to look at your eye again."

"But Lunaclaw, I feel fine. It's-"

"I said get to my den!" Lunaclaw's eyes became sharp as an owl's talons, cold and deadly. With her tail between her legs, Shatter sprinted toward her den.

Lunaclaw followed, calm and collected now, almost bashful even. "Sorry. I didn't mean to snap. I just really need to talk to you."

"About?" Shatter questioned as they moved into Lunaclaw's 'room' for more privacy.

"I found out that my kin will become the next medicine cat."

"But…I thought you were a one-kit, and your parents and family is gone."

"Right. Then…" Lunaclaw dipped her head and started to cry. As she sucked in a shaky breath, she continued. "I was out walking, gathering herbs, and I met this tom. I can't remember his name, but I fell in love. I know what I felt, and it was pure love. That I cannot forget." Another sob. "Anyway, something happened…and he didn't want me to remember him. He blamed himself, and slipped Forgotten Tears in my prey. I can't remember what he looked like or his name…"

"What happened?"

Soundlessly, Lunaclaw looked up. A single salty droplet ran down her cheek before gravity acted on it. Lunaclaw put her paw on Shatter's, bringing Shatter's paw to rest on her stomach with light pressure.

Shatter felt her heart stop.

A kick.

Lunaclaw was pregnant.

Sorry for the long inactive period! XC has kept me on my toes! A race every weekend, and along with my volunteer work at a bird sanctuary and mountains of home work! Oh, and viruses. 600. Awesome. -.- That equals one tired, busy Luna! Don't lose hope if I can't write for a few weeks!