Authors's note: I'm sorry that it took so long to update. Well, here is the next chapter, but I'm really not too happy with the first half of it. It's a bit boring. I spent FOREVER trying to figure out all the warriors and apprentices and kits in the clan. It's hard! And I'm not saying I did too good a job. My sincerest apologies to Erin Hunter for messing up this proud clan…Anyway, I had to make some apprentices into warriors on the spot, because if I didn't, there'd be way too many apprentices. And if I didn't make apprentices, there'd be too many kits. I eliminated Thornpaw from the story (sorry Thornpaw!) to make it that much easier to write this thing. It is that many cats? I don't know. But work with me here. Put up with me please! The story will get better, I promise!

By the way, I hope nobody minds Ocs… There are going to be quite a few.

I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! or the Warriors series. Give thanks for that.

Fire and Shadows

Chapter4

"Tell another story!"

Fireheart perked up his ears upon hearing the voice of a young cat floating out from the elders' den. Although that wasn't too unusual, he, like every other member of his species, was an easy victim of a dangerous little something known as curiosity. And so, wondering what was going on, he went over and poked his head in.

Dappletail looked up as he entered. "Hello, Fireheart. Have you come to join us?" she asked with a light purr of amusement.

Fireheart blinked. All the kits were sitting in the den, the elders around them. "Um…story time, I presume?"

Stormkit, Goldenfolwer's eldest, looked at him, nodding eagerly. "Half-tail was just telling us about LionClan," he said, gray eyes shining.

"TigerClan's better." Firkit, his sister, swatted him playfully.

"Is not!" the older one protested.

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Hush, both of you. LeopardClan could beat those two any day," Timberkit, the oldest of Brindleface's kits, spoke up, mock glaring at them, his tail swishing around, stirring up dust.

"Can not! LionClan's the best!" Rockkit, his younger brother, butted him.

"That what you think! I said, LeopardClan's best, so it is!" Timberkit shot back with a scowl, swiping at his younger brother, who snarled and swatted back.

"Ha! That shows how dumb you are! Rockkit's right, LionClan's the best of them all!" Featherkit, their sister, snapped, drawing herself up to her full height.

"TigerClan can rule over them both!" Moonkit announced, lifting her head high. She was the eldest kit there, as Frostfur's older kit. However, that did not mean she had much of any other kits' respect. They simply ignored her, in the way young kits were prone to, and went on with the squabbling. Soon the air was alive with dust dancing in the afternoon breeze. Leafkit, Moonkit's sister, tried to speak up in the older kit's defense, but her word met empty ears.

"What do you think, Fireheart?"

The warrior, who had been watching the mock-fight with amusement in his amber eyes, looked down in surprise at hearing his opinion asked. Little Shadowkit was gazing at him solemnly with his knowing crimson eyes. Fireheart hadn't noticed him at all, dwarfed as he was by the larger cats around him.

"Well, I haven't given it much thought." He shrugged casually, not wanting to offend anyone. "But remember that they all lived together. Perhaps they were all the same in power."

"That makes sense to me," the black kit nodded sagely, as though anything Fireheart said must be true, simply because Fireheart had said it.

"Hump. How come you're always so practical, Shadowkit?" Stormkit asked teasingly, nudging his foster-brother. The smaller kit growled playfully, batting a paw at him. Stormkit jumped away, and came back with a head-butt.

"Alright, are you kits bothering the elders again?" Goldenflower entered from behind Fireheart, her eyes dancing with both laughter and pure adoration.

"You know, we should enlarge this den if it's going to accommodate us all," Smallear remarked. Fireheart couldn't decide if he was joking or truly annoyed. Perhaps a strange mixture of both, he mused.

Goldenflower chuckled, not taking any offense. "Come on, youngsters. You haven't forgotten the apprenticeship ceremony today?"

"Of course not!" Featherkit bounced up and down on her paws, never staying on the ground for more than a millisecond. "I'm gonna be an apprentice!" she sang joyfully, beginning the fluid movements of an original dance. She was quickly joined by her litter-mates, doing an interesting-looking type of war-dance that went to the chant of, "Appreeeeeeeeeeeeentice! Appreeeeeeeeeeentice! I – am – gonna be an APEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENTICE!"

"Do we even have enough warriors for them all?" One-eye wondered, almost having to shout over the ruckus Brindleface's three kits were making. The three had obviously been practicing their little dance in their own time, because it was the most coordinated piece of childish dancing Fireheart had ever seen. In fact, the warrior was somewhat impressed. Goldenflower's kits were beside themselves with laughter, rolling around on the ground at the display their friends were giving. Moonkit was desperately trying to decide if she wanted to cast away what dignity she had and lower herself enough to join in on this silliness. Leafkit was vainly trying to suppress her giggles, pressing her muzzle against her paws.

"We have enough," Glodenflower meowed in answer to One-eye's question, while trying to convince the kits to calm down. "Come now, it'll start soon. And I suppose you want to look your best." She led the over-energetic kits out in a ragged line.

"I'd better go too. Who knows what kind of trouble Cloudpaw has gotten into since I last saw him?" Fireheart shook his head, starting to head for the exit.

"How long ago was that?" Dappletail called after him.

"Just before I came in!"

The elders let out a couple merows of laughter.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Once again, the cats of ThunderClan gathered around the Highrock, gazing up at Bluestar. The sun was setting, and Silverpelt was appearing. The to-be apprentices sat, with both anticipation and awe gleaming in their eyes, wriggling with impatience. Their mothers had groomed them to perfection.

Bluestar looked down at her Clan as the sun set. "Cats of ThunderClan! Today is a great day for this Clan. After months of a shortage of Warriors, we are at last ready to make some apprentices who have proven themselves in recent battles into full Warriors, and we also gather to honor several young cats who are ready to take on the responsibilities of Apprenticeship. They will be trained to be the future of our Clan. They will be its guardians and loyal followers, carrying on our ways."

She leaped down to the base of the Highrock. "But first, the warriors! Brightpaw, you have shown yourself to be a worthy opponent in battle, and you had a wonderful mentor. Do you accept the responsibility and honor of becoming a Warrior of ThunderClan?"

"I do," Brightpaw replied steadily.

"Then by power invested in me, I give you your warrior name: Brightheart. I call upon StarClan to look upon this young Warrior, and teach her their ways. ThunderClan welcomes you."

Brightpheart licked her leader's shoulder respectfully, and trotted off the join the warriors, who gazed at her with a new level of acceptance. Bluestar turned to the next apprentice.

"Cloudpaw! You have shown yourself a most formidable opponent, and a loyal cat. You had a fine mentor in Fireheart. Do you accept the responsibility and honor of becoming a Warrior of ThunderClan?"

"I do," the white cat replied, blue eyes flashing with the joy of the arrival of the often-fantasized moment. Watching him, Fireheart couldn't help but feel his heart swell with pride.

"Then by the power given me, I give you your warrior name: Cloudtail. I call upon StarClan to look upon this young Warrior, and teach him their ways. ThunderClan welcomes you."

Cloudtail stepped forward to lick his leader's shoulder, and took his new place with the other warriors.

And in this same way, Swiftpaw became Swiftfoot and Brackenpaw became Brackenfur, and ThunderClan was up four Warriors. The very heart of the Clan itself seemed to be swelling up with pride and delight.

Not missing a beat, Bluestar turned to the kits who were nearly busting with eagerness. They sat on the tips of their paws, ready to spring up like a rabbit the moment their names were called. The seriousness of the moment had been lost, drowned by the anticipation of the honor they would finally be receiving. "Now, the apprenticeship ceremonies. First, the eldest of these kits. Moonkit has reached the age of six moons, and is ready at last to become an Apprentice." At the sound of her name, Moonkit had taken two quick steps forward, placing herself across from her leader. There, she stood shivering, whiskers twitching as it dawned on her that this was really, truly, finally happening. "From this day forward, until she earns her Warrior name, Moonkit will be known as Moonpaw. Sandstorm, it is time for your first apprentice. You are honorable and strong, and I expect you to pass on these qualities to this young cat."

Sandstorm's eyes glowed as she stepped forward to touch noses with the newly christened Moonpaw. Then they retreated together and took their places in the crowd once more.

Bluestar spoke again, reciting the ritual words. "Timberkit has shown himself to be worthy of becoming an apprentice." Like Moonkit had, Timberkit came forward with trembling steps. "From this day forward, until he has earned his warrior name, he will be known as Timberpaw. Dustpelt, you, too, are ready for a first apprentice. You have shown great skill and dedication to the Warrior code, and I expect you to pass on these qualities to this young apprentice."

Dustpelt stepped proudly forward, and touched noses with the newly named Timberpaw.

When they had backed up, Bluestar started once more. "Rockkit, you have shown yourself to be worthy of your apprenticeship. From this day forward, until you have earned you Warrior name, you will be known as Rockpaw. Runningwind, you have done well with your previous apprentices, and you are a trusted Warrior. I expect you to pass on your skills to Rockpaw."

Runningwind, like the previous two warriors, touched noses with his new apprentice.

And in this same way, Featherkit became Featherpaw, with Willowpelt as her mentor, and Leafkit became Leafpaw, and Mousefur her mentor.

Bluestar jumped back on to the Highrock now, and spoke up once more, her clear voice ringing over the camp and into each cat's heart. "And so, let us thank StarClan for their gift of these fine new warriors and apprentices! After the time of war and famine, we now enter a time of surpluses! Give thanks!"

"Give thanks!" the clan echoed as one, chorusing together effortlessly to sing that simple melody.

The gathering broke up, each cat going to congratulated the newly appointed cats before heading off to their dens for the night. The new warriors would have to sit in a silent vigil as tradition required.

"When will we become apprentices, mother? Why do we have to wait?" Stormkit whined as Goldenflower ushered her three kits back to the nursery.

"Because you're not old enough yet! You still have two and a half moons to go," the Queen replied. "Now come, to bed with the lot of you."

"It sure is great, huh, Fireheart? Four new warriors…Whiteclaw will be able to retire soon!" Graystripe looked happily around. "After so long, we finally have enough cats that we don't have to take three patrols a day."

"It is wonderful, yes…but when leaf-bare comes, what will we do? We can't over-hunt the land…"

"Oh, Fireheart, be happy! You're always thinking so negatively. Look at WindClan, they've always had more than this, and they get along fine," the warrior gave his friend a nudge. "Lighten up, huh? Let's get to bed."

Soon it was time for the next Gathering. Tigerclaw went around gathering together the cats they would take. Fireheart was included, and as the sun began to set, he joined the group headed for Fourtrees. He noticed it was bigger than usual. Bluestar must have wanted to give the other Clans a small, but not-so-subtle warning: do not mess with us.

The group included Bluestar, Tigerclaw, Whiteclaw, Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Brightheart, Swiftfoot, Graystripe, Sandstorm, Dustpelt, Moonpaw, Timberpaw, Brindleface, Half-tail, Dappletail, One-eye, and himself.

"We should give them quite a surprise when we enter," Graystripe purred in Fireheart's ear. "Can you imagine?"

Fireheart purred in response.

Together, they started off to the gathering.

Presently, they reached the top of the slope. Lifting his head Fireheart easily caught the scent of the other three Clans. Good. We'll give them all an entrance to remember.

Bluestar was thinking along the same lines. She waited a moment longer, then, with a flick of her tail, the whole group rushed into the clearing below. Fireheart felt his heart double in size with sheer pride as he raced among his sleek, muscled, well-fed, clan-mates.

The other Clans watched them stream in. Bluestar immediately went to the join the other leaders. Being the last Clan meant that the gathering would start soon after their arrival.

"Fireheart!"

He turned at the sound of his name, and saw his friend Onewhisker of WindClan.

"Hi there," he mewed.

"You have us a scare! So many cats!" Onewhisker shook his head in wonder. "Perhaps as many as we!"

"Cats of all Clans! Let us start this gathering!" Tallstar yowled. At once, the clearing fell silent.

"WindClan is happy to report the apprenticeship of two young cats: Downypaw and Crookedpaw! We bring with us today two new warriors: Pantherclaw and Crystalfur."

Nightstar stepped forward. "ShadowClan has welcomed new apprentices also: Icepaw, Earthpaw, and Blackpaw. Also, we bring a new warrior, Sharpclaw"

Crookedstar came up. "And RiverClan, too, brings good news. We welcome two new warriors, Runningbrook and Whitefur, and a new apprentice, Tumblepaw."

Bluestar came last. "And we are proud to announce four new warriors and five new apprentices!"

More than several cats gasped.

"We welcome as these cats warriors: Brackenfur, Cloudtail, Brightheart, and Swiftfoot. Our new apprentices are Moonpaw, Timberpaw, Featherpaw, Leafpaw and Rockpaw."

Fireheart saw with satisfaction the shocked looks on some of the other clan cats' faces. They would not be troubled any time soon.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Did you see their faces? Oh, it was wonderful!" Graystripe laughed as they started back to camp. The shadows wisped around them, giving a clammy, frigid feeling.

"Yes. We gave them quite a scare, didn't we?" Brightheart purred with delight.

"We have nothing to fear now! No Clan will attack us after this!" Cloudtail declared with his youthful and blunt confidence.

"Fireheart? What's wrong?" Brackenfur asked. The ginger warrior was looking around uneasily.

"Well…where's Tigerclaw? I haven't seen him in a while…" Fireheart replied, glancing to his side to double-check his observation.

"You're right…maybe he went ahead?" Swiftfoot frowned.

"Bluestar?" Cloudtail hurried to catch up with their leader. "Where's Tigerclaw?"

The leader paused, uncertain. "What do you mean?"

"He isn't here-"

"Bluestar!"

The cats snapped their heads up at the sound of the voice. From the brushes jumped a small cat. It was panting hard, and bleeding from a wound along its flank. The fear-scent, mixed with the smell of fresh blood, hit Fireheart's nose like a cannon, sending warning signals racing across his body. His muscles tensed up, and his fur rose at an alarming rate.

"Firkit?" Bluestar asked in surprise, recognizing the kit. "What's going on?" She bristled. "Are we being attacked!"

The kit nodded in terror. "I…they came out of nowhere…we were waiting for you to come back, and all of a sudden, the camp exploded! Mother sent me here to get you –"

"Elders, stay here and take care of her. Brindleface and the apprentices, stay here, too. Take care of yourselves. The rest of you, come. Hurry!"

They didn't need her to tell them twice, and raced full speed towards camp.

When Fireheart burst through the main entry, he skidded to a stop, stunned, nearly causing Graystripe to crash into him from behind. It would have been funny had it not been so serious. The camp was overflowing with strange cats. Rouges! Fireheart realized, while his eyes darted around to sum up the problem. The camp was alive, entangled in confusion. The clearing was undulating with the movement of the many cats, going every which way like an ocean battered with numerous different storms.

But he didn't pause a second longer before plunging forward and tearing off a huge gray tom off of a bleeding Runningwind.

The battle quickly turned. Seeing that they were losing, the strange cats quickly turned and fled – those who could still flee, that is. Most of them were lying dead or dying on the ground. There was a sudden rush for the entrance, with the rouges scurrying to get away, and the ThunderClan Warriors pursuing them, thirsting for blood and revenge.

When they were gone, Fireheart stood panting, surprised by how quickly it was all over.

The camp was in ruins. Cats laid everywhere, and the stench of blood was overwhelming. The warrior's den was destroyed, as was the nursery.

"Fireheart."

He turned, and saw Sandstorm there. Here green eyes were filled with shock. She pressed her flank against his for comfort. "I can't believe it…who would so such a thing? Why would they just randomly attack us? We haven't scented them in our territory before."

Fireheart only shook his head and stayed silent. He had his own suspicions, but he felt this was not the time to go accusing the deputy of treason. The last thing the Clan needed now was for another constant to be ripped away.

A shrill wail floated up above the destruction to reach his ears, catching his attention. "My kits! Let me see them!"

He turned towards Yellowfang's den. Goldenflower was there, scratched and bleeding, and fighting her way towards the entrance. Cinderpaw was desperately trying to hold her back, but the smaller, crippled cat was no match for the desperate Queen.

Fireheart exchanged a glance with Sandstorm, and, by a silent agreement, they both turned and trotted side by side towards the struggling Queen and apprentice.

But Frostfur beat them there, and by the time they arrived, she was speaking in a firm but gentle voice, and leading Goldenflower away from the den.

Cinderpaw looked up at her former mentor as they approached. "Oh Fireheart, am I glad to see you. I thought we were done for!"

The warrior nuzzled her comfortingly. "It's over now. I don't see any dead among our Clan. That's always something to be thankful for."

The young cat sighed. "None dead yet, you mean."

Sandstorm frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Cinderpaw looked down, not meeting their eyes. "They got to the nursery. The kits were inside. Goldenflower was not…she was getting something to eat from the fresh-kill pile. The kits were left alone…Firkit got out, but, well…"

Sandstorm gasped, and Fireheart felt his blood run cold. "Are they ok!" he gasped.

"I…I'm not sure…"

xxxxxxxx

The camp was abuzz with anxious chatter. A couple of apprentices carried out the dead bodies of the rouges to be buried. Others were straightening up the camp, patching up the walls. A couple warriors who had been at the Gathering, and who had not been forced too fight much, went out to hunt.

A sudden yowl caught the camp's attention. Every cat's heads turned toward Bluestar's den.

There, pinned underneath Graystripe and Bluestar herself, was Tigerclaw.

There was a moment of stunned silence which overtook the clan as the cats stared at Tigerclaw, who was writhing beneath the two cats on top of him. The deputy was flailing helplessly, baring his fangs and apparently trying to snap off Graystripe's nose.

Goldenflower leapt to her feet. "Traitor!" she screeched. "You are the one who led those roughs here!"

Tigerclaw snarled. "And so what if I did! This Clan's fallen into chaos-" he might have said more, but Graystripe pressed an unsheathed paw to his throat, cutting off his air and drawing blood.

Bluestar was virtually radiating with fury. "I trusted you," she hissed. "Why? Why did you do this?"

Fireheart drew himself up, his time having finally come. "This is not his first traitorous act! It was he who killed Redtail! And he who caused Cinderpaw's injury!" He spat this out, glaring at the deputy with murderous eyes, relieved to be finally getting it off his chest.

The cats now turned to stare at him.

Tigerclaw growled hoarsely. "So Ravenpaw did tell you! He deserved to die-" Graystripe cut him off again, applying more pressure.

Bluestar's eyes were flashing with barely suppressed rage. She nudged Graystripe, who took the hint and backed off, though still keeping close enough that he would be able to jump in if necessary. Bluestar stared down at her deputy.

"Leave," she said coldly. "Leave, and never show your face in out territory again. You have shed the blood of ThunderClan cats. You are no longer one of us. If you are caught on our land, we will not hesitate to kill you. It would be a death you deserve."

She stepped off him, and he sprang to his paws. He looked around. "I tell you now, ThunderClan is doomed! We have stepped away from our ancient customs, sheltering kittypets and cats exiled from other Clans! There will be no future for any cat in this Clan! Anyone who wants to come with me is welcome!"

No cat moved.

"Come now!" Tigerclaw roared. "Longtail? Dustpelt? Darkstripe?"

Longtail shook his head. Fireheart could smell his fear-scent. "I…I won't abandon my Clan! There is no honor for any who breaks the Warrior code!"

Dustpelt growled in disgust. "I respected you, Tigerclaw! I learned a lot from you. I thought you were a great warrior. But I learned a lot from Redtail as well! He was my first mentor, and you killed him! I will never forgive that!" There were murmurs of agreement.

Darkstripe looked around, tail twitching uncertainly.

Then he stepped forward, his head held high. He pranced over to stand by Tigerclaw. "I will support you, Tigerclaw. I believe your words hold the truth."

The former deputy lifted his tail high in triumph. "I'm glad that at least one ThunderClan cat has enough sense to see reason. The rest of you, mark my words: you're doomed." Turning, he stalked out of the camp, Darkstripe following at his heels. Neither cast so much as a glance back at their birth Clan.

The cats watched them leave, before slowly and uncertainly turning back to Bluestar.

To Fireheart, she looked older than ever. Her head was bowed, and she did not look up at her clan as she turned and went back into her den.

Fireheart felt himself starting to bristle. Bluestar was their leader…if she looked so defeated, chaos would break out any minute.

Whiteclaw had been thinking along the same lines. He quickly yowled, "Let's start repairing the camp! Bluestar will announce the deputy by moonhigh, as is the custom." Soothed by his calm, commanding voice, the cats went back to work. Whiteclaw himself slipped almost unnoticed into the leader's den.

Fireheart had always believed Whiteclaw to be some sort of miracle-worker. The warrior emerged from Bluestar's den later, looking pleased. He caught Fireheart's eyes and gave a reassuring nod, before going to help with the rebuilding.

That night, as the sun and moon exchanged places in the sky, Bluestar emerged. Jumping on top of the Highrock, she gave the traditional call. "Let all cats of ThunderClan gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!"

Without hesitation, her Clan came to her.

Once every cat was there, she looked calmly down at them, as she had done so many times in the past. There was a moment of silence before she spoke.

"We have suffered a major blow today. Perhaps it is StarClan's way of telling us not to get so full of pride. I feel that this is mostly my fault. Perhaps if I had noticed Tigerclaw's actions before, none of this would have happened. Perhaps if I had left more warriors here, there would be no life hanging in the balance now."

The cats shifted uneasily. The two kits in Yellowfang's den were on everyone's minds.

"I apologize to my Clan for my mistakes. And to Goldenflower especially."

"You are not at fault, Bluestar! It was Tigerclaw!" Goldenflower replied firmly.

Her clan-mates yowled agreements.

Their leader waited until they quieted again. "I am honored to have your support," she meowed, "and I am aware that you are waiting to know who your new deputy is. I have given it much thought, and in the end, I have chosen the cat whom I know will never betray us. He will fight for us till the end. I have no doubts in him. Though he was not born in this Clan, or even in the forest, he is as much a cat of ThunderClan as any of us here. Your new deputy is Fireheart!"

Fireheart felt his eyes widen to twice their usual size. Him! Deputy of ThunderClan! Had Bluestar made a mistake!

Graystripe leaped to his paws with a yowl of joy. "Congratulations, Fireheart! I know you'll be better than Tigerclaw any day!"

The cats all seemed to spring to life. They crowed around him, offering their own congratulations. Even Dustpelt and Longtail gave him small nods.

That was enough for him.

The crowd parted and Bluestar came up. She touched noses with him. "Honor the Warrior Code, Fireheart. And organize tomorrow's patrols. Make sure no cat catches us by surprise again. I'm putting you right to work."

Fireheart nodded, still a bit breathless. "I'll see to it Bluestar. Thank you for this honor."

Bluestar purred. "I knew from the day we met I could count on you. Serve your Clan well." And she left, heading for Yellowfang's den.

Sandstorm came up, her green eyes glowing with pride. "I know you can do it, Fireheart! And anytime you need me, I'll be happy to be of service."

Fireheart felt his heart swell with pride. This was his Clan, and he felt he was finally being accepted as one of its own. Lifting his head to look around his clan-mates, he raised his voice. "I thank you all for your support. I know I'll be needing it in times to come."