Daughter of Fire and Tiger: Moonrise

by sierra.stanley.52

The six journeying cats are on their way back home after fulfilling their quest to Sun-drown place, learning of the destruction that might be taking place they are eager to return to the forest. but their way through the mountains are steep with secrets, and the forest is in turmoil, will they return in time?

1. Chapter 1

The second book in my 'Daughter of Fire and Tiger' series! Wow, I am feeling awesome right now! Already in my second series and on the second book! Wow! Never thought I'd get this far in life but here I am! XD and I'm loving it! Well, onto the chapter I suppose! (Also totally left out Reedwhisker and Whitepaw in my first allegiance! Sorry…Reedwhisker is supposed to be listed as a warrior in the warriors universe before even Brambleclaw was, but it kind of went crazy and a lot of things in the warriors universe so Reedwhisker in mine is a semi-young warrior! XD)

And omg, Twigpaw's warrior name is (SPOILER) Twigbranch!

0o0o0o

Allegiance

ThunderClan

Leader Firestar-pretty ginger she-cat with jade green eyes.

Deputy Graystripe- long-haired gray tom

Medicine cats Spottedleaf-beautiful dark tortoiseshell she-cat with distinctive dappled coat.

Mothwing-beautiful golden tabby she-cat with amber eyes.

Warriors

Mousefur-small dusky brown she-cat.

Apprentice, Spiderpaw.

Dustpelt-dark brown tabby tom.

Sorreltail-tortoiseshell and white she-cat with amber eyes

Cloudtail-long-haired white tom.

Brackenfur-golden brown tabby tom.

Apprentice, Whitepaw.

Thornclaw-golden brown tabby tom.

Apprentice, Shrewpaw

Brightheart-white she-cat with ginger patches.

Brambleclaw-dark brown tabby tom with amber eyes.

Ashfur-pale gray (with darker flecks) tom, dark blue eyes.

Rainwhisker-dark gray tom with blue eyes.

Squirrelflight-dark ginger she-cat with green eyes.

Sootfur-lighter gray tom with amber eyes.

Leafpool-light brown tabby she-cat with amber eyes and white paws.

Spottedfeather-dark ginger she-cat with amber eyes.

Apprentices

Spiderpaw-long-limbed black tom with brown underbelly and amber eyes.

Shrewpaw-small dark brown tom with amber eyes.

Whitepaw-white she-cat with green eyes.

Queens

Goldenflower-pale ginger coat, the oldest nursery queen.

Ferncloud-pale gray (with darker flecks) she-cat, green eyes.

Sandstorm-pale ginger she-cat.

Cinderpelt-dark gray she-cat.

Elders

Frostfur-beautiful white she-cat with blue eyes.

Dappletail-once-pretty tortoiseshell she-cat, the oldest cat in ThunderClan.

Speckletail-pale tabby she-cat.

Longtail-pale tabby tom with dark black stripes, retired early due to failing sight.

ShadowClan

Leader Tigerstar-big dark brown tabby tom with unusually long front claws.

Deputy Blackfoot-large white tom with huge jet-black paws.

Medicine cat Littlecloud-very small tabby tom.

Warriors

Oakfur-small brown tom.

Apprentice, Smokepaw.

Tawnypelt-tortoiseshell she-cat with green eyes.

Cedarheart-dark gray tom.

Rowanclaw-ginger tom.

Apprentice, Talonpaw.

Hawkfrost-broad-shouldered dark brown tom.

Russetfur-dark ginger she-cat.

Elders

Runningnose-small gray and white tom, formerly the medicine cat.

WindClan

Leader Tallstar-elderly black and white tom with a very long tail.

Deputy Mudclaw-mottled dark brown tom.

Apprentice, Crowpaw-dark smoky gray, almost black tom with blue eyes.

Medicine cat Barkface-short-tailed brown tom.

Warriors

Onewhisker-brown tabby tom.

Webfoot-- dark gray tabby tom.

Tornear-tabby tom.

Gorsepelt-ginger-and-white tabby tom.

Queens

Morningflower-tortoiseshell she-cat. (caretaker of Breezekit-black tom with amber eyes.)

RiverClan

Leader Leopardstar-unusually spotted golden tabby she-cat.

Deputy Mistyfoot-gray she-cat with blue eyes.

Medicine cat Mudfur-long-haired light brown tom.

Mosspelt-tortoiseshell she-cat.

Warriors

Blackclaw-smoky black tom.

Heavystep-thickset tabby tom.

Feathertail-light gray she-cat with blue eyes.

Stormfur-dark gray tom with amber eyes.

Reedwhisker-black tom.

Queens

Dawnflower-pale gray she-cat.

Elders

Shadepelt-very dark gray she-cat.

Loudbelly-dark brown tom.

Cats outside Clans.

Barley-black and white tom that lives on a farm close to the forest.

Ravenpaw-sleek black cat that lives on the farm with Barley.

Princess-light brown tabby with distinctive white chest and paws; a kittypet.

Purdy-elderly tabby tom that lives in woods near the sea.

0o0o0o0o

Stormfur opened his eyes, blinking away sleep, and struggled to remember where he was. Instead of his nest of reeds in the RiverClan camp, he was lying curled in dry, crunchy bracken. Above his head was the earth roof of a cave, crisscrossed with tangled roots. He could hear a rhythmic roaring sound faintly in the distance. At first it puzzled him; then he remembered how close they were to the sun-drown water, washing endlessly onto the edge of the land. He flinched as a vision burst into his mind, of how he and Spottedfeather had struggled in the water for their lives; he spat, still tasting the salty tang at the back of his throat. At home in RiverClan he was used to water-his was the only Clan that could swim comfortably in the river that ran through the forest-but not this surging, salty, pushing-and-pulling water, to strong even for a RiverClan cat to swim in safely.

Other memories came rushing back. StarClan had sent cats from each of the four Clans on a long, dangerous journey, to hear what Midnight had to tell them. They had fought their way across unknown country, through Twoleg nests, facing attacks from dogs and rats, to make the last incredible discovery; that Midnight was a badger.

Stormfur felt ice creeping along his limbs as he recalled Midnight's dreadful message. Twolegs were destroying the forest to make a new Thunderpath. All the Clans would have to leave, and it was the task of StarClan's chosen cats to warn them and lead them to a new home.

Stormfur sat up and looked around the cave. Faint light filtered down the tunnel that led out onto the clifftop, along with a gentle current of fresh air that carried the scent of salt water. Midnight the badger was nowhere to be seen. Close beside Stormfur, his sister, Feathertail, was sleeping, her tail curled over her nose. To his frustration, Hawkfrost had curled up beside her, his broad head laying on top of one of his huge paws. His frustrations melted away as he realized that Tawnypelt, the fierce ShadowClan warrior, was just behind him; Stormfur was relieved to see that Tawnypelt was resting quietly, as if the rat bite she had suffered in the Twolegplace was troubling her less. Midnight's store of herbs had yielded something to soothe the infection and help her sleep. So Stormfur let the sleeping arrangement between Feathertail and Hawkfrost go, Feathertail had decided to sleep near Tawnypelt after all. Hawkfrost is concerned for his sisters, so it would be obvious that he would stay close to Tawnypelt, who was injured.

Nearest the cave entrance, Tawnypelt's sister, Spottedfeather, was stretched out on one side. Her claws flexing in her sleep, as they occasionally twitched. Pressed up beside her was Crowpaw, the WindClan apprentices dark gray pelt blending into the fronds of bracken, and the shadow that Spottedfeather casted over him.

Stormfur shook his head, wondering how someone as kindhearted as the quiet ThunderClan she-cat, could stand being around the rude and insufferable WindClan apprentice who argues with everything just to be difficult. But Stormfur hoped that Spottedfeather didn't get hurt by the end of their journey, he could recall, vaguely, a time when the scent of sweet-milk filled the air and warm, wiggling bodies swarmed around him. At that time, him and Spottedfeather were as close as kin. And he held some loyalty towards his adopted sister, and her adopted family, if only in feeling sympathetic.

Stormfur knew that he ought to rouse his companions so that they could begin their long journey back to the forest. Yet he was strangely reluctant. Let them sleep a little longer, he thought. We'll need all our strength for what lies ahead.

Shaking scraps of bracken from his pelt, he picked his way across the sandy floor of the cave and out through the tunnel. A stiff breeze ruffled his fur as he emerged onto the springy grass. He was dry at last, after his near-drowning the night before, and sleep had refreshed him. He stood gazing around him; just ahead was the edge of the cliff and beyond it lay an endless stretch of shimmering water, reflecting the pale light of dawn.

Stormfur opened his jaws to drink in the air and catch the scent of prey. Instead his senses were flooded by a strong reek of badger. He caught sight of Midnight sitting on the highest point of the cliff, her small, bright eyes fixed on the fading stars. In the sky behind her, on the far side of the moorland, a strip of creamy light showed where the sun would rise. Stormfur padded over, dipping his head respectfully before sitting beside her.

"Good morning, gray warrior," Midnight's voice rumbled in welcome. "Sleep you have enough?"

"Yes. Thanks, Midnight," Stormfur still found it strange to be exchanging friendly greetings with her, when badgers had always been deadly enemies of the warrior Clans.

Yet Midnight was no ordinary badger. She seemed closer to StarClan than any warrior, except perhaps the medicine cats; she had traveled far and somehow had found the wisdom to foretell the future.

Stormfur gave her a sidelong glance, to see her eyes still fixed on the remaining stars in the dawn sky. "Can you really read signs there from StarClan?" he asked curiously, half hoping that her terrible predictions from the night before would vanish in the light of morning.

"Much is to be read everywhere," the badger replied. "In stars, in running water, in flash of light on waves. Whole world speaks, if ears are open to listen."

"I must be deaf, then," Stormfur meowed. "The future seems dark to me."

"Not so, gray warrior," rasped Midnight. "See." She pointed with her snout across the sun-drown water to where a single warrior of StarClan still shone brightly just above the horizon. "StarClan has seen our meeting. Pleased they are, and help they will give in dark days coming."

Stormfur gazed up at the brilliant point of light and let out a faint sigh. He was no medicine cat, accustomed to sharing tongues with their warrior ancestors. His task was to offer his strength and skill in service to his Clan-and now, it seemed, of all the forest cats. Midnight had made it clear that each and every Clan would be destroyed if they could not ignore the ancient boundaries and work together for once.

"Midnight, when we go home-"

His question was never finished. A meow of greeting startled him, Stormfur turned in surprise to see Spottedfeather blinking in the morning sun, her dark amber eyes glinting with small specks of gold. The wind flattening her long ginger fur back, rippling along her sides and making her chest fur fluff-up wildly.

"Sorry to have surprised you," Spottedfeather said meekly, her ears twitching in embarrassment. "But you wouldn't happen to know where we can find some prey around here, do you?"

"Budge up, and let the rest of us out." Crowpaw's irritable voice sounded behind her. "Then we might be able to tell you."

Spottedfeather was quick to comply, flashing the WindClan apprentice an apologetic look as he emerged. The WindClan apprentice simply rolled his eyes as he moved over to join her. Feathertail followed them out. His sister stretched with pleasure in the sunlight. Stormfur got up and bounded over the rough moorland grass so he could touch noses with his sister. He had not been one of StarClan's original chosen cats, but he had insisted on coming on the journey to protect Feathertail. WIth their mother dead and their father living in a different Clan, the two cats were much closer than ordinary siblings.

Midnight lumbered after him and nodded a greeting to the cats.

"Tawnypelt's much better this morning," Feathertail reported. "She says her shoulder hardly hurts at all." To Midnight she added, "That burdock root you gave her really helped."

"Root is good," the badger rumbled. "Now injured warrior travel well."

As she spoke, Tawnypelt herself appeared from the tunnel; Stormfur was relieved to see that she looked stronger after her long sleep and was scarcely limping at all.

Following Tawnypelt, her brother, Hawkfrost, pushed his way out of the tunnel and stood blinking in the growing light. "The sun's nearly up," he meowed. "It's time we were on our way."

"Shouldn't we try to find something to eat first?" Spottedfeather suggested, shuffling uncomfortably on her paws as if she wanted to disappear into the ground. "To get our strength going."

Stormfur had to agree with her. Hunger clawed at his own belly, and he knew that without food they would not be able to face the long and exhausting journey back to the forest. Yet he shared Hawkfrost's urgency; how would they feel if they delayed too long, and then discovered cats had died because of it?

A thoughtful look had set on Hawkfrost's face. Looking to take in her suggestion. Stormfur had to admire how Hawkfrost was so thoughtful with others, especially his sisters. "Don't worry, Spottedfeather. We'll pick up some prey as we go. And once we get back to the woods where we made camp, we'll have a proper hunt."

"Alright," Spottedfeather meowed.

"Hawkfrost's got a point," Tawnypelt added. "Who knows what's happening at home? There's no time to waste."

A murmur of agreement rose from the other cats. Even Crowpaw, who usually loved to challenge every decisions Hawkfrost makes, had nothing to say. With a slight shock, Stormfur realized that their long journey, and the threat to all the Clans, had changed them from a group of squabbling rivals into a unified force with a single purpose, to save their Clanmates and the warrior code that had protected them for so long. A warm feeling of belonging swept over Stormfur. His loyalty toward RiverClan was complicated-knowing how their half-Clan heritage made other warriors suspicious of him and Feathertail-but here he knew he had found friends who judge him without thinking about Clan differences all the time.

Hawkfrost paced forward until he stood in front of Midnight. "The thanks of all the Clans go with you," he mewed.

Midnight grunted. "Time is not yet for farewell. I come with you as far as woods, make sure you know right path."

Without waiting for the cats to agree or thank her, she lumbered off across the moor. Ahead of her, the sky had become too bright to look at as the sun began to edge it's way above the horizon. Stormfur blinked gratefully at the yellow light. The setting sun had guided them on their journey to find the sun-drown place; now the rising sun would guide them home.

The four chosen cats-along with Stormfur and Hawkfrost, who had come with Tawnypelt and Spottedfeather in refusal to see them go off on their own-had set out from the forest blindingly following a half-understood prophecy from StarClan. Now that they had discovered what the prophecy meant, it was easier to decide what to do next, but at the same time it was terrifying to know just how much danger their Clan were in.

"I believe that's our signal to follow." Hawkfrost said, swishing his bushy tail around in a gesture for them to get moving.

The Clan cats followed him slowly, the brown tom looked deep in thought, as if he were imagining all the difficulties they would have to face on their way back to the forest. On either side of him was Tawnypelt and Feathertail, Tawnypelt seemed refreshed from her night's rest, and even though she was still limping, her eyes showed nothing but determination to make the long journey home. Feathertail trotted with her tail up, clearly enjoying the bright morning as she flanked his shoulder. Spottedfeather stumbled after, her fur shining in long, glossy ginger rippling streams as it blew in the light breeze. While Crowpaw loped along beside her, keeping his ears pricked and his muscles tense, as if he were already anticipating trouble.

Stormfur, bringing up the rear, breathed a swift prayer to StarClan. Guide our paws, and bring us all safely home.

As the sun climbed higher, the sky became a deep, clear blue, dotted with fluffy scraps of cloud. The weather was warm and kind for so late in leaf-fall. A breeze swept over the grass, and Stormfur's mouth watered as he caught the scent of rabbit. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a white tail bobbing as the rabbit vanished over the crest of a gentle slope.

Instantly Crowpaw darted after it.

"Crowpaw!" Spottedfeather exclaimed in surprise, watching with the rest of them as the WindClan apprentice disappeared after the rabbit.

"Does he ever stay put? Or better yet, listen to what someone tells him?" Hawkfrost asked, sounding sarcastic. Hawkfrost's feud and mutual dislike with Crowpaw was obvious to everyone in the group.

"He'll come back, Hawkfrost," Spottedfeather defended. "WindClan cats feel at home on the moor, and Crowpaw is the fastest cat out of our group."

Hawkfrost's only reply was a scoff and a shake of his massive head.

"I'll fetch him back," Stormfur meowed, bunching his muscles to spring in pursuit.

Before he could move, the dark gray apprentice reappeared at the top of the rise. He was dragging the rabbit with him; it was almost as big as he was.

"Here," he meowed ungraciously as he dumped it on the ground. "That didn't take long, did it? We are allowed to eat sometime today, right? Or do you want me to carry it around till you decide it's a good time to eat?"

"Fine, do as you wish. Letting fresh-kill go to waste is against the warrior code, no matter where we are." Hawkfrost snorted, gesturing the go-ahead with a shake of his head.

Crowpaw gave his own snort of contempt, his blue eyes sharing a quick glance with Spottedfeather. The five cats crowded around the fresh-kill. Stormfur stopped short when he noticed a glow of admiration in Feathertail's eyes as she stared at Hawkfrost, who had taken up guard, allowing the others to eat as he stood by, watching over them keeping a lookout for possible danger or sheer stubbornness in not taking prey caught by Crowpaw. Surely his sister couldn't be interested in Hawkfrost? Stormfur's doubts from that morning coming back with his sister and the ShadowClan tom. Hawkfrost was a natural leader and had lead them far on their journey, Stormfur would give him that. But he is also brash and likes to use his claws to think most of the time. He argues and is easily riled up. A cat from a another Clan-a ShadowClan warrior at that!-had no right to start padding after Feathertail. And why was Feathertail thinking about Hawkfrost in that way in the first? Didn't she know the problems this sort of thing could cause-hadn't she learned that from their own parent's?

Then Stormfur's gaze slid across to Spottedfeather and Crowpaw. It seemed that it wasn't just Hawkfrost and Feathertail that were getting to involved with one another, especially being from two different Clans. But could Stormfur blame the siblings? Their own lives have been a bit off, having a father in ShadowClan and a mother in ThunderClan. It was still whispered and rumored that both leaders still were emotionally involved with one another, that they still held romantic feelings for their former-mate. Stormfur wondered if their parents actions had any impact on how Hawkfrost and Spottedfeather's viewed relationships. But they should know it's against the warrior code and can't possibly have a future together! Stormfur reasoned, irritated at the four of them.

Stormfur eventually sighed and began gulping his share of the rabbit. He hoped he was imagining things; after all, any cat might admire Hawkfrost's protectiveness towards the group or his natural and efficient leadership skills, surely that was all Feathertail was feeling. And Spottedfeather might actually find something interesting about Crowpaw that made her warm up to him and vice-verse, they seemed to be friends now, and that just be all that was there.

While the cats ate, and Hawkfrost kept lookout. Midnight waited a few paces away. Stormfur saw her tearing at the moorland grass with her strong, blunt claws, snuffling up the grubs and beetles she disturbed. Her eyes were screwed up, as if she found it hard to search for food in the strong sunlight, but she said nothing, and as soon as the five cats had eaten all they could of Crowpaw's prey, she set off once more toward the rising sun.

Even with Midnight to lead them by the most direct route, it was sunhigh by the time they reached the crest of a gentle hill and saw the edge of the woods in front of them. The shade underneath the trees looked as inviting as running water to Stormfur after traveling through the heat of the unprotected moorland. For one brief moment, he let himself imagine an afternoon of hunting, then settling down full-fed for a sleep under the arching fronds of bracken, but he knew there was no chance of that.

As they drew closer to the woods, he spotted what looked like a heap of mottled brown fur in the long grass underneath a bush. His tail twitched in rueful recognition at the sight of the elderly tabby who had guided them-and nearly lost them forever-in the Twolegplace.

"Hello, Purdy!" Spottedfeather called out cheerfully, clearly glad to see the elderly tabby. "We're back!"

A large round head emerged from the bundle of fur, whiskers twitching and eyes blinking in confusion that gradually turned to welcome. The old cat scrambled to his paws and took a couple of paces toward them, shaking bits of a dead leaf from his unity pelt.

"Great StarClan!" he exclaimed. "I never reckoned I'd see you again." Suddenly he broke off, his eyes fixed on something over Stormfur's shoulder. "Don't move a whisker!" he hissed. "There's a badger behind you. Just let me deal with it. I know a few fightin' moves that-"

"It's okay, Purdy," Stormfur interrupted, while Spottedfeather's tail curled with amusement. "This is Midnight. She's a friend."

The old tabby stared at Stormfur, his jaws gaping in astonishment. "A friend? You don't make friends with a badger, young fellow. You can't trust'em a single mouselength."

Stormfur gave Midnight an anxious look, wondering if the badger was offended by Purdy's words. To his relief looked as amused as Spottedfeather, her tiny black eyes gleaming.

"Come and meet Purdy," Stormfur meowed to her. "He guided us through Twolegplace."

Midnight plodded forward until she stood in front of the old tabby tom. Unconvinced, Purdy crouched down with his neck fur bristling and his lips drawn back in a snarl to reveal snaggly teeth. Stormfur felt a twinge of admiration for his courage, even though the badger could have flattened him with one swat of her powerful front paws.

"Here is not fight," Midnight assured him. "Friend of my friends is my friend also. Much of you they have told me."

Purdy's ears twitched. "Can't say I'm pleased to meet you," he muttered. "But I suppose you must be all right if they say so." Backing away, he turned to Hawkfrost. "Why are we hangin' around here?" he demanded. "There are Upwalkers and dogs all over the place. Say good-bye and let's be on our way."

"Wait, hold on!" Feathertail interrupted, turning to give Hawkfrost a firm look. "We need to hunt, and you need to eat." Her sister's words reminded him of the rabbit so long ago that it felt like ages and how hungry he suddenly felt, she also made him remember that Hawkfrost hadn't had anything since yesterday. He sort of felt bad that he forgot all about Hawkfrost, although his sister certainly hadn't.

"Alright," Hawkfrost agreed, a glimmer of amusement lighting up his ice-blue eyes as he stared at Feathertail.

He paused to taste the air; Stormfur did the same, and was relieved to find that although he could distinguish several different dog scents, they were all stale. He guessed that Purdy was using the danger of dogs as an excuse to get away from Midnight.

"Okay," Hawkfrost meowed after a few-moments of silence. "Let's split up and hunt quickly. We'll meet in that place where we camped last time. Tawnypelt, do you want to go straight there?"

The ShadowClan warriors eyes flashed as she replied, "No, I can hunt as well as any of you."

Before any of the cats could respond, Midnight padded up to her and gave her a gentle nudge. "Foolish warrior," she rumbled. "Rest while able. Show me camping place. I will stay while sun is high, go home in dark."

Tawnypelt shrugged. "Okay, Midnight." She headed farther into the woods, following the stream to the hollow where the cats had rested on the outward journey.

The air was cooler in the dappled shade of the trees. Stormfur began to relax, feeling safer here than on the open moorland, though the chattering stream, too shallow for fish, ws no substitute for the river he loved. A pang of loss stabbed through him at the thought that, even if he saw the river again, it would not be for long; Midnight had told them that the Clans would have to leave the forest as soon as the six cats returned.

A rustle in the undergrowth reminded him once again how hungry he was. It would be good to go off for a while and hunt with Feathertail, just as they did at home. But when he swung around to speak to his sister, he saw that Hawkfrost was saying something in her ear.

"How about we hunt together?" he asked, sounding inviting but an almost unnoticed twitch of his tail showed a bit of nervousness. "We'd be able to catch more prey if we work together."

"That would be great!" Feathertail's eyes shone; then she spotted Stormfur, and looked embarrassed. "Er-why don't we all hunt together?"

Hawkfrost's ear twitched in embarrassment, stubbornly looking away in the opposite direction of the RiverClan tom. Stormfur felt the hairs on his neck begin to prickle. What right did the ShadowClan tom have to invite Feathertail to be his hunting partner? "No, I'm fine on my own," Stormfur retorted, spinning around and plunging into the undergrowth, trying to pretend he hadn't seen the hurt in his sister's blue eyes.

But once he slipped beneath the lowest branches of the bushes his irritation faded. His ears pricked up and all his senses were alert in the hunt for prey.

Before long he spotted a mouse scrabbling among fallen leaves, and dispatched it with one swift blow. Satisfied, he scraped earth over the little brown body until he was ready to collect it, and looked around for more. Soon he added a squirrel and another mouse to his hoard-which was as much as he could carry-and set off for the meeting place.

On the way he began to wonder how Feathertail was getting along, asking himself if he should have stayed with her after all. He was not one of StarClan's chosen cats; he had come on this mission especially to look after his sister. He had been wrong to abandon her in this strange place, just because Hawkfrost had annoyed him. What would he do if something happened to her?

When he reached the camping place he saw Tawnypelt stretched out in the shade of a hawthorn bush, her tortoiseshell fur hardly visible in the dappled sunlight. Midnight was beside her, dozing, and there was more chewed-up burdock root laid on Tawnypelt's injured shoulder. The badger must have found some growing by the stream. Hawkfrost was perched above Tawnypelt on a steeply arching tree root, obviously keeping watch, while took a squirrel from the pile. As Stormfur dropped his catch on the small pile of fresh-kill in the center of the hollow, Crowpaw appeared at the top of the slope, dragging a rabbit, Spottedfeather just behind him two mice dangling from her ginger muzzle. Purdy appeared shortly after the two, a couple of mice in his jaws.

"Good, we're all here," meowed Hawkfrost. "Let's eat and then get moving."

He leaped down into the hollow, Stormfur narrowed his eyes as he approached Feathertail who had beckoned him over with a single swish of her tail. The two settled down together, sharing the squirrel that Feathertail had taken from the pile. Stormfur stood in place for a moment, seriesly tempted to say something about their closeness before repressing the urge. Instead, Stormfur took one of his mice over to Feathertail, settling down next to her on the opposite side from Hawkfrost.

"Good hunting?" he asked.

Feathertail blinked at him. "Brilliant, thanks. There's so much prey here! And you should have seen the way Hawkfrost caught this frog!" Feathertail looked expectantly at Hawkfrost.

"It practically leaped into my paws." the broad shoulder-brown-tom said, his whiskers twitching in satisfaction.

"You mean it leaped onto your head!" Feathertail teased, getting a gentle, playful cuff over the ears from the ShadowClan cat in return.

Stormfur glanced at the prey pile, noting the grey-green amphibian that laid in the fresh-kill pile. Stormfur didn't personally like frogs, although RiverClan sometimes eat the leathery skinned creatures when other prey is scarce. But Stormfur didn't comment on it, nor did either cat wait for a reply, already Hawkfrost and Feathertail were going into a conversation about hunting techniques and types of prey. He ignored their chatter in favor of devouring his mouse in famished gulps, his paws already itching for the next stage of their journey and getting back home as soon as possible.

He had swallowed the last of the fresh-kill and was beginning to groom his thick gray pelt when he realized that Hawkfrost had cut himself off mid sentence, and instead let out a low, threatening snarl. He saw Hawkfrost raise his head, a dangerous glint in his icy-blue eyes that were trained somewhere behind them.

Stormfur whipped around to see what had startled Hawkfrost so much to gain this reaction from the ShadowClan warrior. A familiar smell hit his scent glands a heartbeat before two slender, tawny shapes emerged from the bracken beside the stream.

Foxes!

0o0o0o0o

Omg, first chapter is up! XD I hope you are all enjoying my series! First and second! "Heart of Fire" being my first and "Daughter of Fire and Tiger" being the second! I haven't come up with a title for 'The power of three' or 'Omen of the Stars' but I have time to think on it! If you got any suggestions I'm all ears! XD

The next chapter we will be seeing Sandstorm's kits, some more of Bramble x Cinder, Sorreltail is there too and ShadowClan! XD I hope you all like Black x Russet! If you don't...Why the heck not? Blackfoot and Russetfur make an awesome pairing! I wish they had kits but no! Lionblaze just had to kill Russetfur off now didn't he? Man I cried over that, especially when Blackstar got all upset! Broke my heart! Heck a lot of couple's deaths upset me! I mean, did you not cry when Hollyleaf died and Fallen Leaves was there to mourn her? Did you heart not break when Brightsky died and Mudfur was just...X( so much sadness! (also still angry that the Erins killed off Foxleap...I never got over that!)

Facts:

Hawk x Feather is confirmed! XD

Spotted x Crow is confirmed! XD

Cinder x Bramble is confirmed! XD

Thorn x Leaf...really need to get together but not just yet apparently! XD

Squirrelflight will get a mate...you'll know who, just wait and see! XD

Fire x Tiger…? Where do they stand now I wonder? XD

Sand x Bracken is totally legit! They are mates and having kits!

Sorreltail...hang in there! XD your time will come!

Well, that's all I got for now! Oh, wait ya, totally going to do Hawkfrost's pov as well! So will be switching between Mothwing, Stormfur and Hawkfrost! Just to let you all know! Might be consistent might not but he will have a part in this book!