Reviewwww Replyyyyy Timeeeee

ScipioPB- Yeah, choosing is pretty hard for me too. Thanks for reviewing!

ZM- Yes, I like that name too. And, uh, no, the rogues are not creepy mutant cats... X3

Tigereyes of Riverclan- Yay! Here it is!

Silverwillow of the Freljord- :) I'd love to!

winxclubfan1- I will definitely use her soon! Actually, she is coming up in a few chapters :)

Oh my gosh 92 reviews. I will not have a happy excited attack. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH OHMYGOSHOHMYGOSHOHMYGOSH THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! Everyone reviewed gets a choice of a giant chocolate or red velvet cake, a giant chocolate cookie, or tea with piles of small delicious cakes!

I guess for my answer to the QOTD, after a long consideration, would be Rainpaw and Thrushpaw. Rainpaw is such a fun perspective to write from, and Thrushpaw really cares for his sister.

Chapter 12

"Can we speed up?" Rainpaw mewed. Flowerstem was at the head of the group of cats, and she looked back at her daughter.

"We're only a few fox-lengths from the island."

"I know. I just want to start the journey!"

Moss purred. "Young ones, always so impatient."

"I am not impatient!" Rainpaw protested, earning a few amused purrs from the older cats.

Flowerstem rolled her eyes and beckoned the patrol with her tail. "Let's get over the tree-bridge." They had arrived at the island. Rainpaw confidently leapt up on the trunk and wove her way through the prickly branches.

Soon they had made it across the bridge and were making their way through the prickly bushes that led to the clearing in the center.

Fresh scents of WindClan, ShadowClan, and RiverClan told Rainpaw they were the last ones to arrive. She forced her way through the last of the undergrowth and dashed out into the clearing, Thrushpaw hard on her paws.

Stormpaw was on the other edge of the clearing, talking to a gray tabby she cat with black paws. Rainpaw calmly padded over to them. "Hey Stormpaw."


Runningpaw's POV

"Hey Stormpaw." Runningpaw turned from her argument with the Stormpaw to find a small tortoiseshell she cat had joined them, her fluffy fur sticking up everywhere.

"Hey, Rainpaw." Stormpaw replied casually. Runningpaw narrowed her eyes at him. Surely he couldn't have any connection with this she-cat, right? Stormpaw turned awkwardly to Runningpaw. "Oh, uh, this is Rainpaw. I met her at the Gathering and once on a border patrol."

Runningpaw sighed, relieved that it had been nothing else. "And this is-"

"I'm Runningpaw!" She interrupted Stormpaw. "I'm sure you already know Stormpaw, based on what he told me, and the way you just walked right up here, but I'm his best friend!"

Stormpaw squirmed uncomfortably. "All my friends are my best friends." He mewed.

Runningpaw gasped with mock hurt. "You mean I'm not your best friend? I'm not the one you care more about than any other cat?"

"Well, I'll give you credit for entertaining me with your drama."

"What?!" This time she really was shocked. She was not a drama cat!

"Come on, Stormpaw! We're meeting in the next to the tree!"

What tree? Runningpaw thought, confused, until she saw them run to the foot of the Great Oak where all the others were sitting. Oh, that tree.

She padded out into the center of the clearing, and settled next to a gray ShadowClan tom. "I'm Runningpaw!" She announced, and waited for an answer. None came. "Uh, hello in there? I said I'm Runningpaw! Can't you hear?"

The tom rolled his eyes and muttered something that sounded like, "Mayclaw."

Runningpaw screwed up her face, confused. "Did you say Mayclaw? What kind of name is that?"

He snorted and muttered louder. "Lama."

"Lama?"

"Graypaw!" He finally snarled. "Can't you go and annoy someone else?!"

"Ok!" Runningpaw refused to be intimidated by his grumpiness and continued to talk.


Rainpaw's POV

Rainpaw led Stormpaw to the center of the clearing and began to listen to the four original cats speak. "I think we should take the route we used last time." Flowerstem meowed.

"No, that would take to long!" a black a white tom argued. "We should take the Twolegplace trail!"

"That's my father, Rushingwind." Stormpaw murmured.

"But then we could get lost, like when we tried to come back!" Rainpaw recognized the light brown tom as Dustbreeze from a Gathering.

"I agree with Flowerstem. We should go past the Horseplace and cut through those cornfields we saw, and-" That she-cat is Firebreeze.

"Yes, but what if those dogs come out again?" Rushingwind.

"Well, we just run. That's all we can do. If we take the Twolegplace route we risk a rat attack."

"When we came down from the mountains to ask for help, we didn't run into dogs." Hawk put in helpfully.

"So, it's settled then. We're taking the original route?"

The cats meowed their agreement, then turned to the younger warriors and apprentices. "Follow us!"

Rushingwind tried to take the lead, but Flowerstem nudged him aside and ran in front.

"I guess we should go." Rainpaw mewed. Stormpaw nodded, and together they ran out of the clearing and followed the older warriors.

Rainpaw caught sight of Thrushpaw hurrying towards her, a small gray tabby she cat by his side. "This is Lilypaw from ShadowClan." He introduced. "Lilypaw, this is my sister, Rainpaw."

Rainpaw noticed the affectionate way he turned to look at Lilypaw, brushing his pelt against her's. Someone's got a crush!

"Nice to meet you." Rainpaw meowed, "We've got to get going. Look at how far ahead the other cats are!" As a group, the four apprentices dashed faster until they had caught up with the older cats.


"This is so cool!" Runningpaw squealed excitedly. "We can look over the whole of WindClan on this slope!" As much as Rainpaw disliked the she-cat, she had to agree with her. This is pretty cool...

"I can see ThunderClan from here! And look at the island. It looks so tiny!" Lilypaw mewed. Rainpaw nodded, and looked around the group of cats, trying to match names to faces. I already know most of the apprentices, except for that gray tom and silver she cat.

As if she had said their names aloud, the two came bounding over. "I'm Streampaw from RiverClan." The silver one announced.

"And I'm Graypaw of ShadowClan." The fluffy gray tom grunted ill-temperedly. "You'd better thank me for coming. I had to give up my warrior assessment for this."

"You didn't have to come if you didn't want to." Rainpaw retorted. He muttered something under his breath, then fell in beside the line of apprentices.

"So, these are all of the apprentices. Can you tell me the names of the warriors from your Clan?"

"Sure!" Lilypaw replied. "That black tom over there is Silentshade, and the ginger she cat next to him is Firebreeze."

"And the black and white tom is my father, Rushingwind. Skycloud is the gray and white she-cat beside him."

"Pigeonfeather is that fluffy white tom over there. And on the edge is Rainpool. She just became a warrior, so she might come back her and join us." Streampaw explained.

"From are Flowerstem, my mother, and also Thrushpaw's, and the other light and dark gray speckled tom is Ashwhisker."

"Are we done with introductions? I'd like to catch up with the rest of the group." Graypaw growled.

Rainpaw glared at him. "You'll have to wait a moment. The dark brown tabby is Hawk That Hunts Over Peaks, and his Tribemate is Moss That Clings To Riverbank."

Graypaw nodded his head. "Great. Have a nice day!" He sarcastically meowed, then sprinted ahead to the group.

Rainpaw sighed, then flicked her tail. "Come on, let's catch up."

She dashed away, hearing the apprentices hard on her paws, and felt fur brush against her pelt as Stormpaw caught up with her. "I'm glad we're on this journey together." He meowed.

Rainpaw nodded and nudged him affectionately. "Me too. We should get back to the group in case they need us."

He pressed his nose to her ear for a moment, then meowed his agreement. "Before we go, I have one question. It may seem random, but I've been pondering this for days. Why do cats from other Clans hate being outside in the open, but WindClan doesn't? And do you feel that way?"

Rainpaw started, surprised. "Wherever did you get that thought? Anyways," She mewed before he could open his mouth again. "Maybe the Clans just aren't used to it, and that's why they don't like it."

He gazed back at her. "Do you dislike it?"

Rainpaw narrowed her eyes with thought. "I love being out in the open, but I also like being in the dense woods."

Stormpaw nodded. "Same." He seemed to shrink uncomfortably for a second, then open his mouth to ask something else, but closed it again and clearly thought better not to ask. Instead he flicked his tail. "Come on. I'll race you back to the group."

Rainpaw felt a purr rise in her throat. "You're on!" They each quickened their pace until they were flying over the moor, tails streaming out behind them. The sunset sent shafts of light falling in patterns on the long grass, and as Rainpaw glanced back at the lake she saw it shining with white flames. Time seemed to wrap around the two cats, and the peacefulness was broken by only a single call of a lark.

Home lies behind.

And the world lies ahead.

How'd you like? Please review! They inspire me to write more!