Chapter 4

(A/N) Guys this is a loooong one so buckle up for a looong ride

Gingerpaw headed back to camp to see a black and white tom standing in the ThunderClan camp. Cloudtail and Brackenstar sat in front of him listning to him as he talked.

Starheart was behind her staring at him as he spoke. Gingerpaw's eyes turned to slits as she narrowed her eyes, staring at this unwanted rogue.

"- no place back in my home. My forest I used to live in was destroyed. I use to live with a tom, about your age, and the Twolegs destroyed what was left of our barn. He said to go to ThunderClan for shelter, so I came here."

Gingerpaw looked up at Starheart. Who could he be? Why would he care so much for becoming a Clan cat?

"Was the cat black with a white mark on his chest and a white tail-tip?" Sandstorm asked as she stared at the new comer.

The black and white tom nodded his head.

Sandstorm stared at him. "That's my brother Ravenpaw! Do you know if he's still alive?"

"No, but we traveled here together, he only made it to a place called the Cave of Rushing Water. Then he stayed there, he was so old and exhausted."

"Brackenstar, can we send some of our younger warriors to get, him?" Sandstorm asked.

"I don't know if he could make it here, he's an elder now, we may have to leave him with the tribe, he probably could make it to Daisy, Mousekit, Hazelkit and Berrykit's farm at the furthest.

Sandstorm sighed and looked at her paws. "Could I go with some of the warriors to see him?"

"I don't know how far you could make it." Cloudtail looked at her sympathetically.

Sandstorm glared at him. She may have been the second oldest elder, only younger than Longtail, she was as determined as the youngest warrior. Squirrelflight looked at her mother and stared at Brackenstar with a hard look, "I'm willing to help her there, or him back. I'm sure if Firestar were still around he'd let us go!"

Brackenstar flinched but still head his gaze.

"I don't know about Firestar, but I am not willing to let one of the elders die because she wants to see some kin."

Sandstorm held her gaze for a bit then headed to the elder's den and Squirrelflight followed, her tail swishing angriliy.

Gingerpaw looked up at Starheart, "Who's Ravenpaw? I had no idea Sandstorm had a brother."

"Ravenpaw's a loner who used to be from ThunderClan."

"You mean, ThunderClan has exiled apprentices before?"

"No he wasn't exiled, Firestar saved him from Tigerclaw, he tried to kill him when he was an apprentice. So Firestar took him to see a loner he knew named Barley and he's lived with Barley since his death.

"So what does that mean?" Gingerpaw asked, "Why doesn't he live closer to here, like at Horseplace?"

"Did the elders ever tell you the tale of the old territory?"

Gingerpaw shook her head.

"I'm surprised, Whitenose is the youngest cat born in the old territory, almost every other cat knows about it."

"So you were born there? What happened?"

"Twolegs lived by our territory, they didn't only come in greenleaf like they do here. They had a thunderpath that cut right through, ThunderClan, ShadowClan and WindClan. They wanted to expand on that thunderpath. They started building and destroyed all four Clans and they're camps. I remember, Ferncloud's three kits died then, Larchkit, Hollykit and Shrewpaw all died. Dappletail, the oldest ThunderClan elder ate a poisoned rabbit that killed her. Squirrelflight, Brambleclaw, Stormfur of RiverClan and his sister Feathertail went. Stormfur and Feathertail were Graystripe's kits."

"Were?"

"Feathertail had died on the journey. Stormfur went to live with the Tribe of Rushing Water to be with his love Brook. The other cats that went were Tawnypelt of ShadowClan and Brambleclaw's sister, and Crowfeather of WindClan.

"Crowfeather is Shadowtail's father isn't he?"

Starheart nodded, "Now Ravenpaw had stayed behind, his barn was infested with the mice he ate. They seemed like an endless supply and they were! I'd been there twice, when Firestar took us to meet him for the first time and when we stayed with him after leaving our territories. I would have never thought he would have run out of fresh-kill."

"So this tom lived with him?"

"Maybe after the Clans left. I never knew he lived with any cat but Barley." Starheart answered.

Brackenstar mewed, "We will allow you to stay for now."

Cloudtail nodded.

Starheart padded over to Brackenstar as the clump of cats started to scatter. Gingerpaw followed her and flicked her ears as she tried to listen.

"Brackenstar, I would like to see the tribe again. Can I take a patrol of cats to the Tribe's cave?"

Brackenstar sighed. "If you wish. But stay there for a day when you get there. Then come back. You will be responsible for the cats. And please don't take Sandstorm."

"I can't promise that. She'll follow me. She's my mother, if I know her she'll follow us to the Tribe and back."

"I'm serious Starheart." Brackenstar glared.

Starheart rolled her eyes. "Fine, just you better make sure she doesn't follow me."

Starheart headed to Highledge and yowled, "All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a Clan meeting."

Brackenstar rolled his eyes and hopped up after her.

"We have heard news from a loner that a friend of ThunderClan, Ravenpaw has been with the Tribe of Rushing Water. I will be leading a patrol there. Who's coming with?" Starheart hopped down and a group of cats came to her.

Gingerpaw padded over.

Starheart flicked her tail to Gingerpaw who came over. "You sure you want to go? It's dangerous in the mountains. I've made sure Sandstorm and Graystripe don't come. Don't make me force you to stay behind. I don't want to be responsible for the death of my apprentice."

"Well, you won't have to worry then." Gingerpaw mewed as she headed back to the other cats.

She saw that most of the cats coming were senior warriors.

"So you're going Squirrelflight?" Gingerpaw asked the ginger warrior.

"I want to see Stormfur. I'm sure Brambleclaw would have gone too."

Gingerpaw heard about Brambleclaw, ThunderClan's deputy before Cloudtail. He was Squirrelflight's mate and Amberfoot's father.

Gingerpaw saw Icepaw peering at her from the alcove that was the apprentices' den. Her ears flicked as she decided whether or not to join the patrol. Then she headed back inside the den.

Gingerpaw ran to her sister. "Aren't you coming?"

"I don't know if I should, Amberfoot doesn't need to worry for both of us. If something happens to you… look! We already lost Foxkit! I don't need to lose you!"

"Icepaw, I'm not even your sister! You don't need to worry for me and neither do Amberfoot and Dewspot!"

"What do you mean you're not my sister?" Icepaw asked.

Gingerpaw started to explain what Starheart had told her. Icepaw listened and didn't saw a word till Gingerpaw was done.

"You're still my sister. We grew up together! And I don't want to lose you because you're going to be reckless in unknown territory!"

"I'll be careful Icepaw. I'm not going to kill myself." Gingerpaw promised.

Icepaw looked over Gingerpaw's shoulder as she saw the patrol leaving.

"You better go,"

"See ya!" Gingerpaw ran off.

"'Bye," Icepaw mewed.