A/N All right- this story will continue, but at a price- a while. I've got relatives over, and this will come up in a LOOONG time. And I really mean it. But Pleeeasee don't hate me. Pleeeeeeeeease.

Oh, and a side note- please pray for my dog, who was in surgery and is very sick. Just a few prayers might help- I'm a Christian after all, and believe in the power of prayer. So pray for Prince the golden retriever, and I will be eternally grateful!

Fresh-picked flowers and killed rabbits for my reviewers, and for you vegetarians or those without kittypets, here's a salad. Dressing on the side.

Disclaimer::is being poked, prodded, and scratched by kits in the nursery where she was dragged: I don't own Warriors! Let me go! Every part of me! That includes my hair! Ahhhhhh::drowned by sea of fur:

(Begin Chapter Five)

Duskpaw skittered to a halt at the training hollow, whipping her tail around eagerly. Russetpaw softly padded up to the hollow, taking his time to drink in the sights, sounds, and smells.

Despite her minor wounds from the battle (deemed by Frozenfoot and her very young apprentice, Spottedpaw, she was free to go) she bounced around in the dirt, clawing up pawfuls of dust and the occasional rotting acorn.

"You don't want to waste your energy like that," advised a cat entering the grove, golden fur shining, head held proudly high.

"Lionheart!" exclaimed Russetpaw. "Hello. Where is Ebonstreak?"

The mentor began drawing lines in the dirt with a claw, commenting, "She's in the hunting patrol- they came back early, and so the sunhigh hunters are sleeping while the next are hunting. You…" he said slowly, making a circle in the dust, "Will be practicing hunting today."

Duskpaw eagerly rolled over and sat up, shaking brown off of her black coat. "You're teaching both of us?" she asked, pulsing with energy. The brown tip of her tail twitched eagerly, and she waved it like a banner.

Lionheart, amused at the excited apprentices, nodded. "Duskpaw, you go near that rock with a gouge in it. Russetpaw, I want you in those holly bushes."

Both of the cats ran off to their positions, and awaited a command from Lionheart.

The golden cat drew three more circles in the dust, and then stepped back. "Duskpaw, run and pounce exactly on three of these in succession. Hit…" he said, dipping his claw in the dust to make three small dots. "Each of these dots with accuracy. Go!"

Duskpaw launched herself from her place from the rock and slammed into the first circle, whacking the dot, and then rolling to the others, proceeding as planned.

"Well done," said Lionheart. "I can tell your accuracy is fine- but we need to work on your rolls. If you keep doing that twist, you will have sore back muscles every time you hunt." The golden cat turned his gaze on Russetpaw. "Now, I want to see you try and climb that tree as if pursuit of a squirrel- some cats have caught prey while they're escaping up trees and such. Ready… shift your haunches, Russetpaw… ready…"

A light brown shape swiftly leapt onto the tree and climbed up, tiny claws working their way into the thick bark of the tree. Reaching about four fox-lengths up, Russetpaw looked down and said, "Is that good?"

Lionheart nodded, and said, "Now, if you can slowly work your way down- there's-"

A harsh, guttural screech split the air, and more screeches came afterwards. Duskpaw, frightened, puffed up her tail and laid her ears back, hissing.

Lionheart backed up, and yowled to Russetpaw, "Down! It's an owl!"

Freeing his claws, Russetpaw loosened his grip and plummeted down-

And was snatched up by the enormous, snowy owl that shrieked in pride at her catch.

"No!" cried Duskpaw, disregarding her fear and Lionheart's calls to Russetpaw to fight. Running forward, she leapt up and sank her teeth into on of the huge wings that beat the air, eager to fly away with his catch.

Surprised by the weight, the owl tumbled into the training hollow and rolled, smashing into gorse and thorns, blood seeping out of the wounded wing.

Russetpaw, now thoroughly enraged and furious at being stolen, drew back his claws and tore at the owl's belly, right above where the giant claws gripped him.

However, if it hadn't been for Lionheart, who courageously ran up and slammed into the owl with all his mass and strength, the apprentices would of died, instead of what happened next.

The owl, now in a oval shape being curled up and shielded, began to be pushed by the three cats into the ThunderClan camp on accident, rolling and twisting. Crashing through the entrance, it plowed through a group of cats sharing tongues. Shrieking and screeching, it had all happened so fast that the cats in the camp had no time to react.

Bluestar came running out of her den, and when she saw Russetpaw tangling with the bird's enormous claws and Duskpaw still gnawing on the wing, she jumped and pounced, right onto the bird's neck, yanking out two feathers.

The bird, however, was not done. Flapping her wings furiously, she snapped with her lethal amber beak and glared with harsh tawny eyes.

It was the action of Ebonstreak, who, running from the warrior's den, who slew the owl. Leaping right on top of the white neck, she bit deep. Everyone who had raced out of the dens, whether elder or warrior, winced as the bones in the neck crunched and a hollow snapping sound echoed.

The owl gave one, last feeble wing flip and sank to the ground, defeated.

Bluestar cautiously stepped forward and sniffed, staying close to the bird's mouth. "The owl is no longer breathing," she announced, with amazement in her voice. "She… is dead."

Several curious kits poked their head out of the nursery where they had been ordered to stay.

"Impossible," murmured a deep voice, and a familiar dark brown tabby padded forward. "Two apprentices and three warriors take on an owl? Surely…" His eyes, amber and accusing, strayed to Lionheart. "Why did you let these two go where an owl would catch and eat them? Bluestar, he is not a worthy mentor-"

Lionheart drew himself up, eyes fuming. "I didn't see you running to save these apprentices! You stood there… one of the strongest cats in the clan? And one of the most cowardly, it seems."

"Tigerclaw. Lionheart." A quiet, wise voice came from Bluestar, her cerulean eyes on the bleeding Russetpaw and the exhausted and slightly crimson Duskpaw. "We will discuss this later. For now… we need to drag this carcass out of camp."

"I will!" chorused Lionheart and Tigerclaw together. At that moment, both cats glared at the other. Determined to be the best, they would do everything possible to be the best warrior there was.

"Duskpaw. Russetpaw." Ebonstreak slid up, nudging both of them. "Perhaps it would be best if you two went to Frozenfoot-"

"I will take them, Ebonstreak." Bluestar's eyes were cool but concerned, a strange mix. It was as if she was disturbed mildly with the two apprentices. "And if you can… get Rootpelt to see if the kittypet Peaches is available."

With a quick dip of her head, Ebonstreak left Bluestar to the sister and brother.

The silvery-blue cat gazed levelly at the pair of apprentices. "No half-kittypet could of taken on a owl, not even with help," mused the leader, eyes flicking from the light brown kit to the black cat. "I need to question Peaches and Rootpelt… we will see."

For a few more silent moments later, Russetpaw spoke. "So you are saying that Peaches might not be a kittypet? But a full forest cat?"

Bluestar gave a cat shrug. "I do not know."

More minutes passed, and four cats ran into Bluestar's den.

Peaches, Rootpelt, and Ebonstreak were there, along with another pure black cat, with rough fur on his hind paws and front paws.

"Who-" asked Bluestar, but was interrupted by the new cat.

"Coarsefoot, formerly of ShadowClan, now named Bandit by my housefolk," he said in a hoarse voice. His gray eyes shone with wisdom, for one so old he seemed fit. "I have much to tell…"

His eyes flicked from Russetpaw to Duskpaw. "Ah… they are good kits, Peaches," he said slowly, as if saying it to himself."

Russetpaw exchanged glances with his sister. "Er… Coarsefoot, Bandit… not to be rude… but why did you come with Peaches?"

The old, black cat swished his tail about, as if thinking. "This seems a good Clan to raise your kits in, Peaches," murmured the cat, deliberately avoiding the question.

Duskpaw took a step forward, close enough to smell the cat. Why did he smell vaguely of Russetpaw, Peaches, and herself? Unless… "Bandit, if I can call you that, you smell as if… if…" she stammered at the end, not really wanting to say what she thought. By the look on Russetpaw's face, she knew his mind had drifted to that too.

Coarsefoot gave her a level, steady look, and she was suddenly cowed. "I mean- you smell like a kittypet."

Everyone seemed satisfied with that- Coarsefoot gave his paw a lick and said, "Yes, I am a kittypet, was a warrior in ShadowClan. Before I was exiled, of course."

"Did Rootpelt explain to you why you are here?" asked Bluestar, tail twitching with distrust of the stranger. A former ShadowClan warrior, now a kittypet, exiled- for what?

Coarsefoot nodded. "Actually, I came along, after hearing what Rootpelt said to Peaches. I understand you discussed this earlier?"

The silvery leader nodded, and cast her gaze upon the two apprentices. "We have suspected for a while that you are not half-kittypet, because of your actions- Russetpaw, Lionheart tells us that your moves while training are not those of a half-kittypet. Duskpaw, your battle with the ShadowClan patrol is enough to say anything."

Coarsefoot cut her off. "I have something to say in this. These kits are not half-kittypet- they are more forest than that."

"How would you know?" asked Rootpelt, eyes narrowing. Already he had begun to dislike the black kittypet.

Coarsefoot drew a deep breath, and said, "I know, but first I must explain my history… it will help…"

(End Chapter Five)

A/N HaHA! My first real cliffy! Or something like it. Hehe…. Leave ya hanging!

I noticed that in my reviews (I've forgotten your name, terribly sorry) that someone mentioned that Longtail would be a kit. I haven't read the first book in… quite a while. I read the last book most recently, and even that's like a month. We're redoing our house and all my books are in boxes, so I have a limited supply to read.

I know no two apprentices could take on an owl, but it will come in later why I had that in there. And don't forget the two feathers Bluestar pulled out… they are important also!

I was gone for a long time on vacation- exploring mountains and the beaches of my beautiful country. BEAUTIFUL! Hehe…

Read and review!