Hi, everyone. Welcome back to Morning Rays!

November 5th is coming up soon! Days left! Enter your trilogy names for the Morning Rays contest! So far we have entries from AutumnLeaves, puppydogs68, Fastbreeze37, and Guest!

RESPONSES:

puppydogs68: Mintpaw is coming up in this chapter! You may or may not be correct about Falconstrike and Quiverhawk. Guess you'll just have to find out!

FrostedShadowx: Moonsong will not be exiled. Sunshadow will make her miserable for a short period of time, though.

FirestarIsSimba (Guest): Thank you so much! I also like the POV changes, as they are fun to write.

Enjoy!

. . .

Unknown Location

. . .

"So, when are you going to do it next?" demanded Junipervine.

Quiverhawk glanced at her. "I am planning on staying with her for longer and longer periods of time. Ease her into the routine, so it makes it harder for her to escape."

Junipervine cackled evilly. "Good. She will be a valuable asset for our plan. There is only one thing in the way. . . and I think with time, our Asset will do it for us."

Quiverhawk nodded in approval. "You are becoming better and better every day, young Junipervine. I will make sure Asset is ready soon, don't you worry."

. . .

Sunshadow glared at Moonsong from across the clearing. She doesn't know what she's doing. She's blinded by love. Love is powerful. She will not leave Falconpaw, or whatever his name is by now, easily.

He shook himself. Just thinking about it wouldn't help matters. He had to take action.

There was a Gathering tonight, and it was almost guaranteed that he and Moonsong would go, as the newest warriors in the Clan, if he could only expose her without making it look like her knew about it or he was snitching.

Sunshadow narrowed his eyes in determination. He wasn't snitching; he was helping his littermate.

He would do whatever it took to bring her back.

Even if it meant killing Falconpaw.

. . .

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey join here beneath the Burnt Tree for a Clan meeting!"

Sunshadow followed the command, walking away from the side of the camp where he had been grooming to hear what his leader had to say.

"BlazeClan, tonight is the Gathering! I would like Velvetcloud, Silversprout, Featherear, Cloudchaser, Jadeshine, Runningbrook, Lightstep, Tumblefoot, Turtlefoot, Lavenderfern, Yellowtooth, Stormheart, Shyspeck, Sunshadow, and Moonsong to come. Riverwhisper and Fernwillow, you are in charge until we get back. Let's go."

Hawkstar leaped off the Burnt Tree, waving his tail to gather the Clan together as he had done so many times before. The Clan silently fell behind him, Velvetcloud pushing forward to stand beside the brown-furred leader.

The walk to the Gatheringplace was almost completely quiet. The only sound was the quiet swishing of the undergrowth, and the occasional "Hoo!" of a night owl. Sunshadow thought as he walked, planning how he would get Moonsong away from Falconpaw, or whatever his warrior name was. He was dangerous, Sunshadow knew. When he first met the slightly-older tom, he had seemed cold and distant, something Sunshadow hated about cats. He had felt an ice barrier between them as they had talked, even though the TwilightClan cat seemed nice enough once warmed up to.

Sunshadow shook his head. Focus. If only he could force a separation between the two. Maybe then they would realize that they were not meant for each other.

An idea...

Sunshadow immediately knew what he had to do. He had to make sure Moonsong was on training duties, or part of a patrol with a senior warrior, or better yet Hawkstar himself. Then she wouldn't be able to sneak off. She would be forced to do Clan work until night, and then, Sunshadow would be able to stop her from going. Eventually, though, Moonsong would come up with a way to go out. He knew that. His sister wasn't stupid.

Sunshadow suddenly felt the cats around him come to a halt. He jolted out of his thoughts, suddenly realizing that the Clan had made it to the Gatheringplace. Sunshadow took a deep breath. This was it.

Hawkstar leaped onto the Leaders' Stump, shuffling his paws to make himself comfortable. Sunshadow went out to find Moonsong, and saw her slipping between a few tree trunks in the other direction. MeadowClan had not arrived yet, as they were furthest away from the Gatheringplace. He had time. Sunshadow quickly glanced around, looking for another roughly-same-aged cat to come with him, as he did not want to come out as a stalker. He spotted a pure white she-cat sitting by herself. She would do. Now to make some small talk.

The golden tom padded up to her. "Hey, I'm Sunshadow of BlazeClan. You might be..?" The albino started, glancing up at him. "Huh? Oh, I'm Mintcloud of EchoClan. Thanks for helping us in the battle last moon. MeadowClan and TwilightClan would have taken the hills for sure if it weren't for you and your Clanmates." Mintcloud briefly met Sunshadow's gaze before looking away. Sunshadow felt slightly startled. This cat's eyes were dark pink.

Mintcloud looked up once more, a look of sadness coming over her face. "You-you think that I'm weird, don't you?" she stuttered. He instantly felt horrible. The poor thing was embarrassed by herself.

"No, no, no! I was just a little surprised, that's all. I don't think you're weird; you're lucky to have such a unique look. Come on, let's go somewhere a bit more private." Mintcloud let out a tiny breath of relief before looking back up at him, smiling a bit.

"Thanks, Sunshadow. I needed that," she meowed. "Let's go, then." Sunshadow led the way to the general direction where Moonsong had disappeared. As he pushed through the bushes, he saw a sliver tail disappearing through the other side. He beckoned to Mintcloud. "Come on, let's just keep walking." Mintcloud nodded, coming up to stand beside Sunshadow. As they padded on, Mintcloud began to talk to him.

"You know, you are the first cat to really be nice to me about being albino. It's kind of annoying, mostly just because I get stared at all the time when I go anywhere. Some of the other kits said when I was younger that I must be evil because I have reddish-colored eyes, but I'm not. Other than that, the biggest annoyance is that I'm sensitive to light and and touch. I hate battling, as it hurts so much when someone claws me. I sometimes can't sleep at night because the cats around me tend to move around and hit me. I always have to go out either early or late because the sun hurts my eyes. I hate it. I just want to be like any other cat," Mintcloud finished, beginning to sob a bit. Sunshadow moved closer to comfort her, stroking her fur delicately, trying not to upset her even more.

"Mintcloud, you don't have to be embarrassed. You look beautiful, and your eyes are so unique. Don't let others bother you about it." Mintcloud shifted closer to him, letting some of her tears fall into her fur. "Thanks, Sunshadow. Thank you so much. I-"

"Let the Gathering begin!"

Mintcloud sat up abruptly. "Oh, I have to go. I promised my mother and brother that I would sit next to them for my name getting announced. Thanks again." She bounded off.

Sunshadow sighed, deciding to sit next to Yellowtooth. He padded over, making himself comfortable. Yellowtooth shifted a bit to give him some more room, and Sunshadow looked up to smile at him, catching a glimpse of silver out of the corner of his eye. Moonsong walked briskly past him and Yellowtooth, whisking by like he wasn't even there. Sunshadow felt his blood rise to a boil, anger almost taking over before he managed to surpress it. Yellowtooth padded him reassuringly. "Don't let her get to you. She's just a know-it-all jerk, you know." The golden nodded, straightening up.

"I shall begin, if you all don't mind," Hawkstar began, looking at the other leaders for approval. They nodded half-willingly, and Hawkstar cleared his throat. "As Newleaf comes, prey is beginning to run well once more. Jasminebloom's kits are almost apprentices, and we have two new warriors. Welcome Sunshadow and Moonsong!" The Clans began to chant, "Sunshadow! Moonsong!" As the cheering faded, Hawkstar began to speak once more. "We are prepared for any attacks. BlazeClan is strong." Sunshadow sighed, tired of hearing their leader constantly making sure that the other Clans were aware of their strength. Dawnstar cleared her throat meaningfully. "Alright, then Hawkstar. MeadowClan is strong as well. We have one new warrior; Hazelpaw, who is now Hazelwing." A clamor of cheers rose up again, before Dawnstar stepped down, replaced by Silverstar. She gave a similar report as the first two leaders, announcing Dovefrost's kits, Graykit, Poolkit, and Frecklekit becoming apprentices, and Cliffpaw, Longpaw, and Mintpaw becoming warriors, now Cliffstone, Longclaw, and Mintcloud. Sunshadow saw his new friend's back straighten as her name was called, her brother, Cliffstone, purring beside her.

Then Nightstar, TwilightClan's leader, came forward.

Sunshadow held his breath. Would he say anything about Moonsong and Falconpaw? What was Falconpaw's warrior name?

Nightstar cleared his throat. "TwilightClan is doing well, and we have new warriors as well as new kits. Sedgebrook has given birth to Wedgekit, Darkkit, Mothkit, and Gullkit. Falconpaw, Burrowpaw, and Brightpaw are now warriors as well. Welcome Brightfur, Burrowwink, and Falconstrike!"

Sunshadow glared across the clearing at Falconstrike. The tom must have sensed someone watching him, as he turned around and met his gaze steadily as the cats around them cheered. Yellow eyes met green, tension sparking between the two. Falconstrike then looked away, scooching closer to his siblings, Brightfur and Burrowwink.

Falconstrike, Falconstrike. What should I do with you? he thought. A lightbulb went off in his head. If her couldn't get Moonsong away from Falconstrike, then maybe he would have to get Falconstrike away from Moonsong... But how?

. . .

Unknown Location

. . .

"Quiverhawk, we have a problem," whispered Junipervine.

"What problem?" the tom spat, turning sharply to the she-cat. "What's wrong?"

"Her brother. He his a threat."

Quiverhawk sighed. "Well, I guess that we'll have to put our plan into action sooner than we thought. Asset is almost ready; this might help push her completely into the safe zone, at least, the safe zone for us."

"Whatever you say, boss."

Wow. This chapter was long. Long but fun to write. Hope you enjoyed!

-Russet