A/N-Hey all! Thank you for all who reviewed! And Halfpelt and Aquadream, thanks for the ideas! And now... for the moment you've all been waiting for... CHAPTER THREE!

Chapter 3: Fire's Rain

WindClan border (with ThunderClan cats)

Rainwhisker padded along the WindClan border, flicking his tail back and forth. His apprentice Glintpaw followed slowly, his light green eyes wide.

"Now Glintpaw, WindClan is not an ally. Once we had the battle with the rogues, they had decided to withdraw from every other Clan except RiverClan," Rainwhisker explained.

Glintpaw padded up to his mentor's side. "Why?"

Rainwhisker shrugged. "I guess they thought they'd be safe. But I heard that WindClan was attacked because WindClan wanted RiverClan to ally with ThunderClan."

"Why?"

Rainwhisker shrugged again. He stopped. A scent drifted to him. His jaws parted as he tasted the air.

RiverClan?

"Glintpaw, be careful," he warned, waving his tail.

Glintpaw nodded. He glanced to the side. "Where are they?" he mewed.

Rainwhisker nodded to a hawthorn bush. "Behind that." He swiveled his ears. The bush rustled, then three RiverClan cats stepped out into the open.

Rainwhisker smiled at them. "Hello, Cloudfang. Sootmask. Fireshadow..." His voice trailed off as he looked at the beautiful black and ginger she-cat. She looked at the ground quickly when she caught his gaze.

"Rainwhisker." Cloudfang nodded to him. "We bring you news from RiverClan. Leopardstar has decided to ally with ThunderClan. Do you accept?"

Rainwhisker blinked hard. "You're asking me? I'd have to check with – "

"Do you accept?" Sootmask demanded, giving him a dangerous look.

"Y-yes." Rainwhisker tried to keep himself from stammering. "Yes, I accept. ThunderClan accepts."

Sootmask and Cloudfang nodded. Fireshadow kept her gaze on the ground. Then she slowly raised her head.

"Um—Cloudfang? I'd like to go with him back to ThunderClan to see if Firestar agrees. And I think Rainwhisker would like to have someone from RiverClan to make sure that... you see my point. Is it okay with you?" she meowed.

Cloudfang looked hesitant to let her go with two ThunderClan cats. After a short pause, he agreed and left with Sootmask. Fireshadow turned to Rainwhisker and Glintpaw.

"Where's your camp?" she asked.

Rainwhisker nodded. "Right," he muttered. "This way." He felt her slide up to his flank. His fur heated up when she pressed her cheek against his. He swallowed.

Say something.

"Hi," he whispered. She looked at him, amused.

... What are you, an idiot? Ask her how she is!

"How are you?" Rainwhisker asked.

"Fine. You?" she replied.

"Great."

Good job so far. Now ask her if she has an apprentice.

"Do you have an apprentice?" Rainwhisker glanced at her.

"Yep. Her name is Sparrowpaw. What's your apprentices' name?" Fireshadow got closer to him. She flicked a bug off his back with her long tail.

"Glintpaw," Rainwhisker answered. "He's a good listener. But he doesn't talk much because he got attacked by a hawk when he was a kit. You can see the scars on his back. What about yours?"

"Oh, StarClan save us! She talks so much. I don't think runs out of anything to say to cats! I guess it's because she sees so many interesting things every day."

"Don't we all?"

They both laughed. Glintpaw strained his ears to hear what they were saying. He managed to catch their conversation very well until they reached camp. He smiled when they twined their tails. He almost laughed out loud.

Next night, Gathering

Fireshadow looked around. Snowlight had told her she had seen Rainwhisker. She smiled when she saw Crowfeather and Rainwhisker talking together. She heard they were good friends. So, she padded over to them.

"Hey, Rainwhisker. Crowfeather," Fireshadow mewed.

Rainwhisker smiled at her. Crowfeather flicked one ear at the she-cat. "Hello," he muttered. Fireshadow narrowed her amber eyes.

Not much of a talker, eh?

Yeah...

Rainwhisker scooted a little closer to Fireshadow. His flank pressed against hers. Inside, she was smiling. But on the outside, she engaged Crowfeather and Rainwhisker in conversation.

"So I hear you're a pretty good warrior in RiverClan," Crowfeather began. "And that you have an apprentice named Sparrowpaw if I'm not mistaken?"

"Yep," Fireshadow replied. "And I heard that you were involved with the second prophecy. And if it wasn't for you that most of us wouldn't be here."

Crowfeather ducked his head, a small smile gracing his features. "Well, I wouldn't say that. I had help. All six of us cats, me, Brambleclaw, Squirrelflight, Stormfur, Tawnypelt, and Feathertail saved the Clans. And Feathertail saved the Tribe from that cat-monster Sharptooth."

"Yeah. I'm sorry about what happened to her."

"Hmm?"

"I used to listen to the elders. They spoke much of her and her brother Stormfur. They were of RiverClan."

"Yep. She was beautiful, just like you."

Now it was Fireshadow's turn to duck her head and smile. "You think so? Well, the elders often spoke of a dark gray WindClan apprentice who chose his own name to 'keep alive the memory of the cat who did not return on the first journey'. The leader said it was a noble request, and gave him the name Crowfeather.

"I also think that is very noble. And a very big expression of love. I would like that to do that for me, but I'm not as special as you."

Crowfeather took this all in, savoring every word she said. "I'm not special. You're special because StarClan blessed you with amazing beauty."

Rainwhisker was getting jealous as the conversation continued without him.

What's up, Dumbo?

Stop that!

Oohhh... you like her... a lot!

Yeah...

So he wrapped his tail around her. She unsheathed her claws on it, but kept talking. Rainwhisker retracted his tail, defeated. But he stayed right there.

"Do you have any siblings?" Fireshadow asked.

"No. But my son is about to become a warrior," Crowfeather meowed, looking proud.

Fireshadow's breath hitched in her throat. Why didn't she see it? "So who's your mate?" she managed to squeak out.

Crowfeather's smile disappeared. He shifted uneasily. "Don't tell anyone, but it's Leafpool of ThunderClan."

HOW DARE HE! A MEDICINE CAT! UGH!

"I promise I won't tell anyone." Her voice was low.

Crowfeather thanked them and moved away. Now was his chance. Rainwhisker nuzzled her cheek affectionately.

"It's going to be okay, Fireshadow," he soothed, licking her. "He's a traitor. You never have to talk to him again. Let's go find a good spot near our Clans."

Just as he said that, Pantherstar sounded for the Gathering to begin. He began with how ShadowClan was, then it was the elderly Firestar's turn, then the weary and weak Onestar.

"WindClan is getting along fine," he began. "Yet, sadly, Ashfoot died in an attack. I have appointed Crowfeather as my new deputy. I feel that I will be going soon, so Crowfeather will be taking over WindClan until I die." He stepped back to let Leopardstar go.

"RiverClan is thriving. As you all know, I am the oldest of the leaders. So I am doing like Onestar is. Hawkfrost is going to take over RiverClan until my time comes."

The Gathering ended. Fireshadow looked at Rainwhisker. That had been the quickest Gathering ever. They said their good-byes, and left with their leaders.

Sunhigh, next day, WindClan

Moonstream looked around. Beepaw sat next to Twigpaw, Moonstream's little brother, just talking. Ravenflame and Duskpaw were training by the raspberry patch. Elderly Barkface was collecting the wild garlic, catnip, and juniper berries by his den.

It looked the same, but it wasn't.

Instead, Beepaw was Beefur. Twigpaw was now Twigfire, and the medicine cat. Robinwing sat alone by the warriors' den, sulking. Duskpaw was limping out of the apprentices' den; her left forepaw was twisted inwards from a fight. Barkface watched from the elders' den.

Nothing was the same.

Onestar as dead. Crowstar was letting everything spin out of control. And the most surprising thing of all was that Moonstream was the new deputy.

Yet she hated it.

Moonhigh, ThunderClan

Sunfire and Singefur sat beside each other. Briarheart sat a little farther off. Silverpelt glittered in the sky as they sat their vigil of silence. Briarheart sighed softly.

'Sup?

Nothing...

Wondering about who your parents are?

Yep. How'd you know?

I'm you, and you're me. I know exactly what you're thinking! And... why do you think I'm so obnoxious?

Crap... Because you talk a lot.

Alright. I'm going to bed!

Wait if you're me—

Briarheart promptly fell asleep.

A/N-Drizzlekit and Aquakit are such cute names, Aquadream! And Halfpelt, are you happy? Please don't kill me! PWEASE! I made you WindClan's deputy!

By the way: Constructive criticism is needed for this story!

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