Hello, everyone! I am SO sorry for not updating for so long. School's been really stressful, and I haven't really have had the motivation either. I hope this plot twist will make up for it ;)

Shoutouts to MapleLily96, MoonStar of ShadowClan, SkystarOfMistClan, Fastbreeze37, FrostedShadowx, and puppydogs68 for reviewing!

. . .

Sunshadow woke up with a gasp. Something wasn't right. His dreams were full of dark omens, running cats, and...

His sister.

As much as he didn't want to admit it, he cared for her. He didn't want her to become his enemy, even though she kind of already was. He just wanted them to live their separate lives in peace.

Sunshadow sighed, resting his head on his paws. The dawn light was seeping into the den, and Moonsong was still asleep. He could see her twitching in her sleep, and he couldn't help but wonder what she was dreaming.

He groaned, rising to his paws. Might as well make himself useful. He ducked out of the warriors' den, nodding to Berryfur on the way out. She waved her tail back at him, headed for the dirt tunnel.

As Sunshadow settled under the Burnt Tree, Velvetcloud padded out from behind him.

"Up early, are you today?" she greeted. Sunshadow nodded, looking up at the sky. She followed his gaze.

"Yeah, I guess so," he responded. "I kept waking up last night, and I couldn't fall back to sleep." Velvetcloud nodded in understanding. "I hate that feeling. Would it help wake you up if I put you on dawn patrol?"

"Sounds good. Who's coming with me?"

Velvetcloud thought for a moment. "Fawnspeckle, Oatsplash, and Runningbrook. You can lead it." Sunshadow nodded, heading to the warriors' den to wake his Clanmates up.

A few minutes later, all three cats were standing outside the den yawning, Fawnspeckle rested her tail on his back, almost a motherly gesture.

"Where are we headed?" she asked, looking at him.
"TwilightClan border," he responded loudly and without hesitation. He needed to do everything in his power to keep Moonsong away from Falconstrike, and he hoped that she had heard him telling Fawnspeckle.

Fawnspeckle nodded, doubt in her eyes. "Sure you want to head over there?" The golden tom jerked his head back. "Of course," he responded, leading the patrol out of camp.

. . .

Sunshadow led the way home near sunhigh. The TwilightClan border was all clear, and the patrol had managed to catch a bit of prey on the way back. He stepped into camp, carrying a squirrel by the tail. He rested it on top of the pile, walking off to chat with Yellowtooth. The light brown tom was with his brother, Tumblefoot.

Sunshadow nodded in greeting, plopping down in on the dry dirt, a small cloud of dust rising.

"What's up?" Yellowtooth asked, scootching closer to the golden tom. He sighed. "Nothing much. Prey is running well. Getting closer to Greenleaf." Tumblefoot murmured in agreement. "Yeah, I'm looking forward to the sun. It's warm now, but mostly clouds near the end of the day."

The trio of cats sat in silence for a few more moments, before Yellowtooth asked, "How's your sister? I've noticed that you haven't been talking to her much lately, not at all close to the amount you talked when we were apprentices. Is something wrong? Have you two been arguing?"

Sunshadow scuffed his paw in the dirt. "It's- its's complicated. We aren't arguing, at least, not now. We just have kind of- parted ways, I guess." Tumblefoot tilted his head to the side. "It's kind of like that with Lavenderfern and us two. I think it's with the maturing, opposite genders, etcetera. You don't have as much in common anymore. Headed for different goals, different mates, that kind of thing."

"I guess you're right," Sunshadow said, shifting a bit as Tumblefoot mentioned mates. He wasn't about to get into that conversation, but it looked like he had to.

"Is Moonsong- interested- in anybody?" Yellowtooth inquired, causing Sunshadow to flinch.

"I-I don't think so. At least, she hasn't mentioned anyone to me... I could be wrong, though. When we have talked, it's mostly just been greetings, or discussing Clan matters... Nothing too personal." Yellowtooth almost looked disappointed, causing Sunshadow to wonder one, horrible thought.

"You- you don't like my sister, do you?"

It was Yellowtooth's turn to draw back. "No! No, of course not! I mean," he trailed off, ducking his head. "She's a nice cat. I was just wondering because she's my friend's sister," he concluded, nudging Sunshadow's shoulder.

The golden tom nodded absently, staring at the ground. If his suspicions were correct, then Moonsong and Falconstrike were in for one heck of a love triangle...

. . .

Moonsong crouched, out by herself, practicing Quiverhawk's moves.

Crouch. Slide. Pounce. Kick. Swat. Flip. That's right. Again.

Her great-grandfather's words rang in her head as she recited the lesson, pouncing and clawing at the right time. She imagined hostile Clan cats in front of her, waiting to get a good hit in.

As she flipped back, the ferns rustled in front of her, and she quickly steadied herself in a defensive position. Lavenderfern stepped out of the undergrowth, staring at her in awe.

"Wow, Moonsong! You're an amazing fighter. Where did you learn those moves? Velvetcloud never taught me anything like that." Moonsong froze, quickly improvising.

"Uh, I made them up myself. Featherear taught me the base of this, and I kind of used that to make these moves." Lavenderfern nodded, narrowing her eyes.

"Well, those are really good. Mind if you teach me any?"

Moonsong thought for a moment before nodding. What's the harm? She thought. "Just don't show anyone, okay? It's kind of a secret thing I do." Lavenderfern nodded in agreement. "Of course, Moonsong," she replied.

"Okay, then. First, you need to put your right paw here, then crouch with your left paw behind you..."

. . .

Dark Forest

. . .

Quiverhawk paced back and forth, staring at the living realm through the living portal, as everyone called it. It was like a window to the living cats, as well as a portal for the dead to travel to the living.

"Do you see that new cat, Junipervine? She may be of use at some point." Junipervine nodded, surveying the newcomer.

"She does have strength. And with Moonsong influencing her, she may be."

. . .

Hope you all enjoyed it! Some of this will be more important in Dawn Sun, rather than in this story.

Merry Christmas, by the way! Only 5 days left!