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Silverwillow of the Freljord- Does Rainpetal sound good?

ScipioPB- Yay!

Pikachudragon- Heh, I didn't even think of that! *whacks self* That could have contributed to the story a lot XD oh well, it's said and done.

Mnaseer2001- I know, right? *growls at rogues*

Bobbie1776- Thank you!

LakeStream- I hate it when my wifi does that! *whacks wifi* Good thing it's better now!

BlackLaybrinth- That double g XD That's a consideration... I'll add that to the poll I am working on for Runningpaw's warrior name :D

Amberflame805- Same. *sighs and whacks self* I have like 5 stories I need to finish but these two will be my mains...

Guest- Maybe so...

Tigereyes of RiverClan- Thanks!

Stream That Flows Around Rock- XD Yay! That was the reaction I was hoping to get X3

gms14- Thank you!

Dawnlight25- Ashwhisker appears at the beginning of this chapter... heh... heh... heh... And I'm still here! I am not going to abandon this story at all.

NEW UPDATING SCHEDULE! How do updates every day except Tuesday and Thursday sound? :D If I don't update everyday it means I'm busy... But how does the new schedule sound?

Chapter 18

Rainpaw stifled her disgust and lowered herself down from the rock, padding over to Stormpaw. He looked at her, eyes wide. "They tried to kill you."

"It's a good thing they landed next to you, not on top." Rushingwind commented.

Rainpaw snorted. "I know that. But what are we going to do about it?" She leaned closer to Stormpaw and muttered, "How did they get in unnoticed?"

Stormpaw shrugged, about to reply when he was roughly shoved aside. He stumbled, about to tip over, and snapped, "Watch where you're going, stupid furball!"

He looked up, and flinched as a gray tom loomed over him. Ashwhisker.

Stormpaw backed away, and Ashwhisker glared at him. "Why are you standing next to Rainpaw?"

Stormpaw caught sight of Rainpaw sighing and rolling her eyes. He shared her annoyance. Not again. "Why not? Is it a crime to hang out with your friends?" He countered.

"You can't be friends once we get back to the Clans. You'll only be able to meet at Gatherings." Ashwhisker growled. Stormpaw heard a muttered, "Thank StarClan. Then I can get closer to Rainpaw without him there every heartbeat."

Stormpaw ignored it. "Well, I-"

"Oh, would you kindly shut up!" Rainpaw snorted. She rounded on Ashwhisker. "You ought to be a little more grateful! Stormpaw just saved my life!"

Ashwhisker's eyes widened. "What? Couldn't he have gotten another warrior to do it for him?"

Rainpaw jerked back as if she had been hit. "Wow, you are really selfish, Ashwhisker. I'm lucky someone heard me from behind the rockfall. The rocks almost landed on top of me!"

Without another word, she spun around and dashed out of the cave, hurt flashing in her eyes. Stormpaw started to follow her, bur felt a tail bar his way. Ashwhisker sighed. "Leave her be."

He turned around. "No! I've got to make sure she's okay!" Stormpaw pushed past Ashwhisker and bounded out, catching Rainpaw's scent in the breeze.

The crisp air burned his lungs, but filled them with life at the same time. He followed her scent up a trail, and found her in front of the waterfall, facing the sunrise.

"Rainpaw!"

She didn't turn around, but kept her gaze fixed on the vanishing stars.

Stormpaw loped froward, leaning precariously close to the cliff Rainpaw was sitting on, but pulled himself back just in time and sat down next to her. "You okay?"

She slowly moved her gaze from the stars, fixing him with a soft stare. "I'm okay. I just wonder why Ashwhisker would do that. He used to be a great friend, but now..." She trailed off, and fixed her gaze on the stars once more.

Stormpaw looked at his paws, unsure of what to say, but decided to keep quiet. He raised his eyes once again, finding her looking at the rising sun.

He too turned to gaze at the sun. He marveled at the golden light reflecting off of the snow, shooting beams in different directions. The trees rustled with the whispering wind, tossing powdery snow from the leaves and branches. "Beautiful."

Stormpaw closed his eyes, the peaceful landscape caught in his mind. The adventure he expected when he arrived may not have fully started yet, but for now he was content to bask in the weak sunlight, allowing the freezing air to cleanse his lungs.


"Did you hear the cats guarding the cave entrance fell asleep last night? That's how they got the rocks to fall on Rainpaw."

"No, I heard they fell next to her and she crawled out."

"Wrong again! I was there, and we helped scrape the rocks away and she crawled out."

"Really?"

Rainpaw blocked out the chatter and headed for the Apprentices' corner. That was what she had decided to call the small sheltered area of the cave where they slept, and Stormpaw had agreed.

Speaking of him, she thought. He was bounding up to her, fur sticking up with clumps of snow. His eyes shone with excitement.

"Moss and Hawk took me hunting! It was awesome. The mountains are huge!"

Rainpaw suppressed a mrrow of amusement. "You look like you've been pulled backwards out of a bramble thicket!"

He flattened his ears with mock anger. "What? My fur is perfectly smooth!"

He shook it out, spattering Rainpaw with snow. "Watch it!" She yelped, leaping back. He purred and flicked his tail.

"Follow me! I found this cool place, and we can see the whole of the mountains from it!"

He darted away, vanishing behind a pillar of rock.

"Wait for me!"

She dashed after him, rounding the boulder and leaping up a ledge. Stormpaw, a tail-length ahead of her, began leaping from rock to rock, until he suddenly halted and caused Rainpaw to almost crash into him. "Shh. Look."

Rainpaw wove around him and gasped. There was a huge gap in the rock, up high on a cliff, where they could overlook the entire mountain. Rainpaw fizzed with excitement. "We can see everything from here!"

Stormpaw nodded. "It's neat, isn't it."

Rainpaw nudged him. "'Neat' is an understatement. This is amazing!"

Suddenly a yowl came from down below. Rainpaw peered past the pine trees below them and spotted an unfamiliar gray and white tabby she cat padding up to the cave, glancing around her before she disappeared inside.


Rainpaw dashed after Stormpaw, skidding to a halt in the main cave. The Tribe and Clan cats stood stiff-legged, watching the she-cat with suspicion. She stepped forward. "My name is Gray." She mewed. "I want to join your Tribe."

The cats looked uncertainly at each other.

She sighed. "You need more cats, right? You're not going to defeat Shadow on your own."

Stoneteller pushed out from between two cats. "How do you know that?!" She demanded.

Gray rolled her eyes. "Every cat living within range of the mountains knows that. I came to help. Shadow drove me out of my home too, you know. So, what do you say?"

No need to be hasty, now. Rainpaw thought with a twinge of worry. Why would a cat just walk up and ask to join the Tribe?

Stoneteller looked around her doubtfully. "I..."

Suddenly Shauna thrust her way forward. "Don't let her join!" The cats gasped as Shauna narrowed her eyes at the newcomer. "She will only bring destruction upon you!"

Stoneteller fixed her gaze on Shauna. "What are you saying?"

Shauna glared at Gray. "She doesn't want to join the Tribe to defeat Shadow, she wants to help him. She's a spy."

The crowd fell silent. Shauna continued, "Her real name is Song. She's Shadow's mate, and she spied for him when he drove out my sister and I, as well as our friends."

Song shifted her paws. "True enough."

Stoneteller glanced, puzzled, at Song. "Why admit?"

Song shrugged. "There wasn't much I could do anyway. I think I'll go now..." She began to pad out of the cave, but two cave-guards blocked her way.

Stoneteller shook her head. "You have to stay, now that we know. Hawk, escort her to the part of the cave that forms a cleft. Post a guard there, day and night. You'll take the first watch."

As Hawk and Song departed, the cats began to disperse. Rainpaw felt shocked by the swiftness of the events.

She turned to Stormpaw. "Did that just happen?"

"That quickly, too." Stormpaw commented, echoing her thoughts. "The day has gone by fast." He's right, the stars are already beginning to appear on the horizon.

Rainpaw backed towards the Apprentices' corner. "I'm going to go talk to them." She flicked her tail at Thrushpaw, Lilypaw, Graypaw and the other apprentices. "Want to come?"

Stormpaw nodded, and together they paced over to their friends.


"Goodnight everyone." Rainpaw murmured drowsily, already sinking into sleep.

A muted, "Goodnight." answered her, and she let darkness claim her, blocking out the worry nagging her mind.

I know, it was rushed. Oh well. This can be the crazy chapter, then.

If you like this story, check out my new story, Rising, and fav/follow that one too? :) You can find it by scrolling to the bottom of my profile, and it will be on there.