I would like to apologize for the shortness of the last two chapters.

This chapter is dedicated to Nightheart, my good friend and fellow Earthclan-er!

Swampclaw opened his mouth to speak when he was interrupted by Blackstar, "Firestar, can't this wait? Surely your deputy can tell you back in camp," he glanced up at the sky, "Besides, the moon is starting to wane,"

Swampclaw was about to protest when Firestar mewed, "Of course, Blackstar,"

Blackstar nodded gratefully, than began, "A couple of nights ago, Shadowclan was attacked by Riverclan,"

Leopardstar took a step back, shocked, "I never! Riverclan wouldn't dream of doing any such thing!"

Blackstar hissed, "Don't lie, we can prove it,"

"How?" Leopardstar taunted, "How would you prove it if we didn't do it?"

The cats in the clearing waited, the startled Riverclan and the bloodthirsty Shadowclan.

The Shadowclan deputy, Darkgrass unsheathed his claws and turned on a Riverclan whom he had just been sharing tongues with.

"Wait!" It was Ravenfeather, "Riverclan did attack Shadowclan, but Leopardstar did not know!"

All heads turned to the warrior, "What do you mean?" Blackstar growled.

Ravenfeather paused before answering, "Rainclaw, Morningsky, Reedpaw, Smokewhisker, Deerpaw, please come forth. Blackstar, Leopardstar, these are your attackers. And of course, myself,"

"Traitor!" The grey she-cat, Smokewhisker hissed, and her brother, Rainclaw agreed.

"Why did you tell?" Morningsky, a mother to many of the shocked Riverclan cats, spat at Ravenfeather.

Reedpaw growled dramatically, "If Fogclaw were here…"

Ravenfeather did not answer, but turned to Blackstar and Darkgrass, "What will be my punishment?"

Darkgrass flicked his tail at Blackstar and shot a glance at the other clans, and than Blackstar mewed, "When we get back to camp,"

Nobody dared move save Leopardstar who hissed at all of the traitorous cats. To break the silence, Tallstar stepped up onto the rock, "Windclan welcomes a new warrior, Shorttail to the clan!" That proclamation was met by yowls from all clans. Tallstar opened his mouth to speak again, "We have also taken in a kittypet. He will be known as Fangpaw!"

Firestar stepped up to the top of the rock as the clans started to howl and spit, "Remember. I was born a kittypet, and remember what I did for the forest,"

The ruckus died down until a few Windclan and Thunderclan cats began to yowl, "Fangpaw! Fangpaw!" Shadowclan joined them, then Riverclan. Last but not least, Morningsky began to yowl, but a howl full of hate and contempt.

The moon flashed for a moment, and only Brackenclaw of Thunderclan noticed it. He saw it for what it was, "An ill omen," He muttered, "This day will bring blood,"

Far away

"Shadowpaw!" A cry alerted the Windclan apprentice. She turned to see her friend, a grey she-cat running towards her, followed by an old yet beautiful cream and tan she-cat and a handsome dark tabby tom, with patches of grey.

Shadowpaw's friends, Riverpaw, a silvery she-cat apprentice and Thunderpaw, a golden tabby she-cat ran over to see what was keeping Shadowpaw. They purred as the recognized their friend and companion.

"Who is that?" Thunderpaw jerked her head in the direction of the cream she-cat, the Shadowclan cat in a foul dispostition.

"That is Cloudfeather, the cloud on the summer breeze! And the other is her son, Cliffhawk of the looming crag," Windpaw said excitedly.

"Strange names. Are you from the tribe of Rushing Water?" Riverpaw, the smart one, asked, remembering Firestar's tale of when the clans came to the forest,"

Cloudfeather smiled, "Yes, we are. You will come with us to the Tribe and learn how to be Medicine cats under the teachings of Stoneteller, Cliffhawk, Breeze that stirs in the shadows and I,"

"Why?" The four apprentices asked together, and Cloudfeather gently explained, "So you can heal the clan. All will be explained later, when your training is complete,"

So the new Medicine cat apprentices shot puzzled looks at each other and followed Cloudfeather into the mountains.