Hey, what do ya know? I updated pretty soon! :D

Review Replies:

Amberflame805- lol I love jay-jay too :D I thought that Legolas was awesome during botfa though ^-^. AND WELLLLLLLL THEN I UPDATED WITHIN A WEEK SORT OF OOOOHHHH LOL! *hides cookies behind back* You can't take them from me this time! XD

LakeStream- no prob! Thanks for reviewing! ;D

Zion the Cookie Empress- yeah… Sunpaw's got some… issues lol. I love your pen name, btw ;)

Doglovermastiff- thanks! :) That's an interesting list name. Lol that would be interesting. But then, Ashfur never had kits sooooooooooooooo yeah lolz

Friendlylittlespark8- thanks! I like your penname, it's cute :D

Pikachudragon- lol Sunpaw's name IS a little ironic... But it'll make more sense later ;)

Rainstorm of ShadeClan- So true, she does have an interesting personality. I also know someone like her... :/ They're... Interesting...new story/manage story and go from there.

Wood Cats- Well, first of all you have to have an account. You click log in, and after you log in, in the same place the log in button was, will be your penname. You click it and it will take you to this screen, and from there click publish and click the tab that says docs. Once you type your documents out, you go to either new story/manage stories. I hope this helped!

Dawnlight25- *grabs cookies* YUMMMM! OMG WHAT IF RUNNINGPAW AND SUNPAW WERE TWINS...? Except that wouldn't work lol. And I have an interesting plan for that... XD and wow, I can tell you like StormxRain wayyyy more than AshxRain lol... and I don't think he's Ashfur... tbh I felt sad for Ashfur until he turned insane, but don't worry, Ashwhisker won't lol ;3 Oh, and btw you should get an account ;D and I forgot to tell you, I will use your OC. I have a great spot for her to come in.

ZM- LOL ikr yeah

err huh uhh d s- thanks!

AnonFanboy- That's a pretty good idea, and I might have picked it, but I had already planned out from ideas sent in a month ago, so I'm sorry that timing didn't work out. Thanks for reading though ;)

Short but important A/N:

Hey guys, I would have updated a bit sooner, and I tried to make this have lots of detail, but tbh it was hard. This week has been hectic; I've had like three major choir things happen, and I had a solo contest on Saturday but got sick, and I'm going to sing the national anthem at a basketball game with my choir, and then we're also going to a very important place to sing (very descriptive, right?) so my choir teacher has been grilling us and perfecting our music, and basically LOTS choir things that are taking over. And then I have another choir contest right after the important place thing, so choir is basically consuming most of my time. Also, a few days ago a family friend, well more like mentor, died, and it was really hard. I tried to make this the best I could for you- and also, it was sort of easier in a way because I could, well, I guess pour out my feelings in writing, but it's been hard.

So, without any further waiting, here is the chapter. I hope you like it! Oh, and we had a snow day today, sooooo yup.

Disclaimer: (why do I always forget to put it) I don't own Warriors, cats, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit... the list goes on and on.

Chapter 23

Ferns rustled at the edge of a small wood. A cat emerged into the open, glancing up at the dark, cloud-covered sky and quickly scurrying across a rocky outcrop until it reached cover again. Frosty breath encircled its muzzle as it breathed out harshly, wide watchful eyes flickering in every direction. Even under the cover of night, the cat ran with quick, nervous steps.

Suddenly a raspy, choked cry rang out in the night. It bristled and ducked low to the ground, gazing warily at the sky until it saw the source of the noise; a hawk pinned beneath a boulder. The cat shuddered and ran the opposite direction, paws flying across rock, snow and ice.

Soon it came to a cliff. It raised its muzzle in the air, nostrils twitching as it scented an unfamiliar cat. It began to creep along the ground, and discovering an almost hidden pathway down to the bottom, the cat silently stole down the cliff.

It landed at the bottom with a thud. Wincing as it rose to its paws, the cat crept towards a bush, ears strained forwards as it heard voices.

Just below the bush was a well-concealed ravine. The cat was hidden on the shorter side- Makes it easier to watch, I suppose, it thought.

Movement in the shadows below alerted it once more. A voice floated up to its ears.

"Song was supposed to be here," a rugged, brown tom growled.

Next to him, a scrawny tortoiseshell wheezed, "Be patient. Song hasn't betrayed us yet."

"Not like we weren't betraying her in the first place," a third cat grumbled, twitching his gray tail. "That's not how we should have gone about it."

"But remember what Shadow says," the tom growled again. "It's for the good of the group."

"I know," the gray tom replied. "but that doesn't make it right."

Both the tortoiseshell and the brown tom began to bristle. "Are you questioning Shadow's leadership?"

He glanced at them incredulously. "Why not? He hasn't been such a great leader."

The she-cat's eyes widened. "Don't let Shadow hear you say that-"

"Hear what?"

She froze, fur spiking up as she turned around. The source of the voice came from a small, lichen covered cave entrance nearby. A huge, black paw parted the lichen. Next a pair of broad shoulders appeared, along with the face. Then the cat sprung into the open, revealing a huge, muscular sleek black tom.

He stalked down to join the group of cats, cold gaze making the hiding cat shiver.

"What did you say?" He purred smoothly, staring directly at the gray tom.

"We- we w-were j-just..." the she-cat stuttered, only to trail off as he shot her a glare.

"Did I ask you, Coriander?!" He spat.

Coriander lowered her gaze. "N-no, S-Shadow..."

"I thought so," he turned back to the tom. "Now, would you like to tell me what you were saying?" As he spoke, he stamped the ground with a heavy paw. Cats began to appear around the ravine, filing into the center. The hiding cat's eyes widened as it thought, That's more cats than I've seen at a Gathering! They formed a tight, uniformed circle around the group. Coriander and the brown tom lowered their heads and backed into the ranks.

The gray tom stared back at him unflinchingly. "You're not a leader, Shadow. You'll never be and you never were."

Shadow sighed noisily and turned to the group. "You see what this kind of thinking can do? These cats are dangerous. They weaken the group. Frost, I suggest you leave now, before I make you," he added to the gray cat.

Frost hesitated, then began to walk past the ranks to a clump of ferns. As he disappeared, the group shouted insults and spat in his direction.

The hiding cat flattened its ears. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea... Suddenly, something shoved it from behind. The cat tumbled down from the bush, rolling into the center of the cats.

Fear throbbed in its heart as the cat struggled to its paws wincing at the shocked gazes of the cats.

"What is now?" Shadow grumbled, and turned around, surprise lighting his gaze.

"Who are you?"

The cat lifted its head, trying to look dignified, but failing. It sighed. Might as well get this on with... "You're Shadow, I assume? Good, I have a proposition for you..."


"Oh, come on!"

Rainpaw sighed and turned to her mother.

"Flowerstem, you know I don't like her," she mewed, gesturing with her tail towards Runningpaw, "and she hates me."

Flowerstem gave a smile. "Darling, you must remain positive! Best friends always start out as enemies!"

"So not true," she muttered incredulously, earning an exasperated look.

"Go on, the patrol is waiting for you!"

"Fine," she began to trot away.

"And remember to be friendly!"

Rainpaw plastered a fake grin on her face and bounded across the cave towards the patrol.

Ashwhisker, along with Hawk and Runningpaw, were waiting at the cave entrance. Ashwhisker turned around as she bounded up. "Rainpaw!"

"Hey Ashwhisker, Hawk," she inwardly pulled a face at the last name, "Runningpaw."

To her surprise, the gray tabby she-cat trotted up to her, a bright gleam in her eyes. "Hello, Rainpaw! How are you doing?"

"U-um... great?" she stuttered, taken aback.

Runningpaw waved her tail. "Cool! Let's go!"

"Where?"

"On the patrol, silly! They're already out!"

Rainpaw twitched her ear and padded after Ashwhisker and Hawk, suspicion growing.


"Soooooo, Rainpaw," Runningpaw began.

Rainpaw rolled her eyes at the tone. "What do you want, Runningpaw. Spit it out." They were walking behind Ashwhisker and Hawk down to the bottom of the mountain. Apparently, scents of the group had been found there and the Tribe wanted to send a few cats to check it out. Better to send Clan cats, whose scent the group was less accustomed to than the Tribe cats. Hawk was only there to show them the way.

"I was wondering if..."

"If what?"

"If maybe we could..."

"Could..."

"Get Ashwhisker to take us down to the bottom of the cliff!" she finished.

"You mean that one over there?" Rainpaw gestured with her tail towards a long, steep cliff partially concealed by stunted trees.

Runningpaw nodded. "I bet there are some scents over there," she meowed seriously, "and if we want to bring back more accurate information, we should try to look everywhere."

Rainpaw glanced at her doubtfully. "If you want."

"Great!" she sighed (A/N if cats had eyebrows, Rainpaw would be raising one right now.) and watched the gray tabby she-cat bound up to Ashwhisker, and return with him a moment later.

"Let's go!"

As Runningpaw bounded ahead, Ashwhisker fell into step beside Rainpaw. "What's gotten into her?"

Rainpaw shook her head, concentrating on stepping over a large rock. "I have no idea."

Before Ashwhisker could say anything else, Runningpaw voice echoed from the cliff. "Look! I found a pathway!"

They exchanged a look and dashed towards the source of her voice.

"Where are you?" Ashwhisker called.

"Over here! I-" Suddenly, her voice was cut off as a muffled squeak.

"Runningpaw?" he hissed. "Where are you?!"

Ashwhisker narrowed his eyes and pointed with his tail in different directions in the undergrowth. "We'll split up. I'll go this way, you go the other. Keep low and out of sight."

Rainpaw nodded to the warrior and tried to calm the anxiety bubbling in her stomach. She began to creep underneath a patch of ferns, and spotting the cliff on the other side, hurried forward. "Runningpaw!"

Suddenly, something heavy cannoned onto her back. Rainpaw fluffed up her fur, crushed to the ground. She tried to lash up at her attacker, but without success. Come on, Rainpaw! Think!

Shifting through battle tactics in her mind, she came to the first one Fernshade had taught her. I hope this works... She went limp.

The weight on top of her stopped moving and hopped off. "Now what did you do?!" came an angry voice.

"I didn't think I was attacking too much!" her attacker protested. He began to move away.

Now! Rainpaw shot up and sped in the first direction she saw... which unfortunately brought her too close to the cliff.

Suddenly, a paw shot underneath her legs. She tumbled down the cliff, managing to catch a root with her forepaw.

Rainpaw looked wildly around. "Help!" She caught sight of a familiar gray face peering out of the bushes above her. "Runningpaw, help!"

The she-cat gave her a wide-eyed glance and began to back away. "What?! Runningpaw, come back!"

There was no response. The root gave way and she fell, landing with an agonizing thump on the ground as the world went black.


See you guys soon! We had a snow day today, sooooooo ;) No school!

Random QOTD I came up with. It might seem a bit abstract, but it works:

How is Talon of Swooping Eagle related to Reedwhisker?