CLANLIFE

This is an account of all the stories (in correct order) that have happened to the cats of ThunderClan. These tales will begin just after a great flood that has destroyed most of ThunderClan and RiverClan. In these times the Clan leader Greystar was sick with greencough and sent his deputy, Lionheart, to the gathering instead. That day the Clan was struck with a massive flood and the cats could not return from the Gathering. When they finally were able to get back they found everyone who was left in the camp to be dead.

Our story begins one moon later.

...THIS WAY COMES - Silvernest - Sunhigh

Patchpelt and Darkpaw watched as Annihilation pinned Whitestar to the ground easily, shifting her bulk onto the Abyssinian's chest. He hissed and attempted to snap at her, but found he could hardly move. Annihilation smiled and her muzzle dove for the ShadowClan leader's throat.

"Wait!"

Anni stopped and looked up to see Patchpelt striding towards her. "What is it, Patchpelt?"

The gathered cats exchanged looks, recognizing the ThunderClan warrior's name. They knew Darkpaw and Mudpaw had come originally from ThunderClan and hoped that having Patchpelt here too would serve as an advantage.

"Like Darkpaw," Said Patchpelt, twitching her tail in Darkpaw's direction, "I am from ThunderClan. Give these cats three days to recover from this battle and I will lead them back to their territory. Their real territory."

Whitestar, seeing no other choice, nodded. "We'll go. In three days. If you..." His voice trailed off as Annihilation released him.

"And don't come back."

"We won't." Said Patchpelt before Whitestar could reply. He shot her a look but knew that she had the upper hand in the situation; Anni could always leap back on him and shred him like she was about to.

Anni nodded slowly, motioning with her tail for Scar tocome with her. The big tortishell tom hopped obediently to her side and the two cats padded away.

"Three days." Said Anni coldly, glancing back at them before breaking into a run. As soon as the snowy she-cat was gone, Whitestar motioned for his Clan to follow him back to the camp.

Patcheplt fell into step beside Darkpaw, who was looking worried. Patchpelt couldn't understand why; they had just stopped Anni from annihilating Whitestar and had convinced ShadowClan to return with them. "What's wrong."

"Mudpaw's dieing. He was really shocked when we almost got run over and hasn't woken up yet." Said the ThunderClan apprentice bitterly.

Patchpaw licked the she-cat's head reassuringly. "He'll be fine. He has three days."

Darkpaw nodded, though she didn't seem to be convinced. Patchpelt didn't blame her; they were all used to expecting the worst, yet Darkpaw didn't even seem hopeful. Maybe Mudpaw was worse then she thought. Or maybe he was already dead.

When they reached the camp the cats split, heading off to their dens, to the Medicine Cat's den or to the fresh-kill pile. Patchpelt and Darkpaw moved with Whitestar and Flamecloud towards Curledleaf's den. The leader and deputy, of course, got treated first, though Darkpaw observed that Curledleaf kept glancing over at Mudpaw, who appeared to still be alive.

When they finally left Curledleaf waited until they were long gone to speak to Patchpelt and Darkpaw, and even when he did his voice was quiet as if he expected someone to be straining to overhear.

"He said he would wait for you, but he's in a hurry." Said Curledleaf in an impatient whisper.

"Who?" Asked Darkpaw, frowning and praying that Curledleaf wasn't losing his marbles.

"Mudpaw. He was talking to Sunpaw, or so she says. Then when I let her go she told me that he wanted me to tell you what I just told you."

"Hun?" Patchpelt was staring at him as if their theory that he was going crazy had been confirmed.

Curledleaf glanced worriedly at Mudpaw again, then leaned closer to Darkpaw. "He's going to die."

"What?" Demanded Darkpaw, arching her back and hissing at the tom who shrunk back, frightened by the apprentice's sudden outburst. "You poisoned him!"

"N- No! I would never!" Squeaked Curledleaf, clearly terrified. Darkpaw did look mad; her fur still a mess from the battle and her eyes wide with fear that her best friend was actually going to die.

"Darkpaw, calm down!" Said Patchpelt, feeling just as scared as Curledleaf looked.

"Calm down! He killed Mudpaw! He k- killed him! It's his... fault..." Darkpaw was sobbing now and Patchpelt calmed, realizing that Darkpaw simply could not accept that her best friend was going to die. She wished she could comfort the apprentice, but she didn't know Darkpaw very well and wasn't sure what to say.

"Silly," Purred a calm voice, "I'm not dead yet." It was Mudpaw. He got shakily to his feet, his pupils so small they were hardly visible.

"Mudpaw!" Exclaimed Darkpaw, bounding over to her friend and touching her nose to his. He smiled weakly and nuzzled her.

"I'm sorry, Darkpaw. They're waiting for me." He spoke softly, as if he wasn't capable of talking any louder. He did look very weak, his steps tentative and shaky.

"Who? No... You can't go!" Said Darkpaw, stepping back so that Mudpaw could see her glistening eyes. "You can't."

The Siamese apprentice sighed and shook his head sadly. "You don't understand. They're waiting. Go back home; you'll be a hero. You found ShadowClan."

"No! You did! It was all your idea!" Whimpered Darkpaw desperately.

"You'll be a great warrior." Sighed Mudpaw.

"No! I can't do it without you!"

Mudpaw leaned forwards, touching his nose gently to hers for the last time. A breath escaped him and his young life seemed to go with it. A yowl of anguish escaped the heartbroken apprentice as her companion slipped to the ground, uttering her name for the last time; "Darkpaw..."

Another yowl split the air and Darkpaw, unable to contain her sorrow fled the camp. And as she ran the wind seemed to finish his unfinished sentence;

"Darkpaw... I love you."

A/N: DarkpawxMudpaw is SO cute! X3 It's so sad, though, but he's not the last one who is going to die tragically. You know what they say; all's fair in love and war.