Hi everyone. Here is a one-shot idea that wouldn't leave my head. I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to leave reviews!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Warriors by Erin Hunter. I only own Skypaw (and lots and lots of debt).

I Will

Skypaw knew what she was doing was stupid. It was stupid and desperate, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures.

She knew she couldn't keep going like this. Her mentor couldn't be bothered to train her- too busy alternating between wooing after the queens in the clan and napping. When she asked for training- very politely, she might add!- what did he say?

"Don't worry about it. You're a queen; the real warriors will protect you. Leave the fighting for the toms."

The lazy bag of bones, she thought while narrowing her amber eyes. But she had to know how to fight! After- here she winced- after her father had died in a border skirmish a half moon ago, the slate grey molly refused to be defenseless. It also didn't help that she was also the smallest and the skinniest of the apprentices, why she only came up to her littermate's shoulder and they were both just over six moons old!

I don't even blame Windclan, I know it was an accident. But still…I want to help Thunderclan! I don't want to be a weak link! If I can be stronger, faster or whatever, then maybe I don't have to lose any more of my family.

Hence why she was here. At the moonpool. One of many places she wasn't allowed to be at. But seriously, one of the places she really shouldn't be, especially on a cold, leafbare night. Briefly, she noticed some doves and pigeons in the surrounding trees, cooing as they prepared to settle for the night. Her brother Pinepaw, the practical jokester of Thunderclan, had told her that Starclan would listen to her, but only if she approached the moonpool on the night of a full moon and she gave them her greatest treasure.

Of course, she knew her brother was only joking and that he most likely just made it up. But at this point, she was willing to try anything!

It was all too easy to sneak out of camp. She hadn't been selected to go to the Gathering and, as luck would have it, her mentor was stuck guarding camp. It wasn't hard to sneak past a sleeping tom, especially after she had rolled in some mushrooms at the edge of camp to mask her scent.

So here she was, staring into the shining depths of the sacred pool while clinging to a small white stone. It may not have looked like much, but it was her greatest treasure for two reasons. One, it was pretty. Two, her father had given it to her after a patrol by the lake shortly before he passed to help cheer her up after yet another failed training session.

Just keep at it. He had said. Just take things one step at a time and do the best that you can, and everything will turn out all right.

Summoning up her courage, Skypaw stepped towards to pool and put the stone down by her paws. She figured that Starclan were pretty formal in address, so she'd prepared a little speech on the way to there. Sort of, anyway.

"Um… oh Great Starclan." Her nerve almost failed her at this point, but behind her closed eyelids, images of her mother and siblings sitting at that awful vigil flashed before her, prompting her to continue.

"I know I have no right to be here or to speak with you. But with this stone, I ask for guidance so that I may protect my clan. With this stone, I ask you to be my mentor so I may honor my vows to, uh, my loved ones. Please" She tacked on quickly at the end because, if she was breaking the rules to this extent, she could at least be polite about it. Skypaw then took a deep breath and dropped her stone into the shimmering depths.

For a few moments, nothing happened. Not that she was expecting anything to really happen. Who was she fooling? Skypaw was just the runt. She tried to tell herself that it was okay and that she had now done everything in her power to help her clan, not that it helped the tears now flowing down her face. In her despair, she never noticed the birds go as still as the pebbles around her paws as they witnessed her vow.

So, when the ground shook around her, she startled, leaping into the air. As she landed, the ground boomed again, causing her to look wildly amongst the trees for the source as the birds began taking flight all at once, circling all around and calling in ringing tones. Afterwards, she realized that she should have continued looking at the pool as that was the obvious source. The other thing she failed to observe was that her stone, which had landed in a shallow part of the pool, had vanished.

A brilliant flash blinded her before revealing… a tom standing on the water's surface. This tom however was very different, not only with his snow-colored fur being translucent and star-studded, but his bearing was almost regal. He pinned the trembling apprentice to the spot with a piercing yellow gaze.

"I will" The ghost whispered.

Terror freed Skypaw once she saw the specter was walking towards her. With a yowl, she whirled around and sprinted for the trees. Peering once over her shoulder, she screeched and doubled her pace upon seeing the white warrior approaching at a calm pace but still catching up! Though that may be due to the fact she smacked into a tree twice on her wild flight.

Finally, Skypaw broke out of the trees at camp entrance. Panting, she gazed around her wildly. There was no sign of the camp guard (they must have been switching shifts) and more importantly, the specter had vanished from behind her. After scanning the forest once last time, she gave a small sigh of relief and turned around to enter camp.

Only to almost walk into the chest of the ghostly cat. Who was now blocking the entrance. And staring unblinkingly at her!

Skypaw skittered backwards as the tom stalked closer and closer. She couldn't help her mewl as she backed into a tree trunk, effectively trapped. She flinched and waited for the worst. She should have known better than to anger Starclan! As she hyperventilated, she noticed many of the birds at the pool seemed to have followed them. She desperately hoped that someone in camp would be disturbed enough by the din to come investigate, though she suspected that she was well and truly on her own.

Before she could do anything else, something (a paw? Or some other force?) force her chin up. As she opened her eyes on reflex, the specter lowered his head.

As their noses touched, Skypaw fled into darkness and knew no more.

Well, at least until she jolted upright in her nest. Bright sunlight filled the empty apprentice's den. She relaxed. Last night must have been a dream. It must have been, otherwise she would have had a huge headache from running into multiple trees as well as being sore from running so far so quickly! But instead, she felt fine.

The little molly stretched and slowly made her way out of the den. Skipping breakfast- she felt she didn't deserve it after failing to provide for the clan- she made her way into the forest. Skypaw figured she might as well try to hunt. Not that her supposed mentor had taught her anything.

"In the future, I expect any apprentice of mine to be more punctual." A mellow voice mewed directly behind her. With a shriek, she whipped around.

The tom from the night before regarded her steadily, an eyebrow cocked in skepticism. "B-bu-but last night was just a dream, right?" Skypaw stammered.

Shaking his head, the spirit lowered himself so he was at her eye level. "No, and I think you know better than that, young one. You asked for guidance from Starclan. And here I am."

Trying to get her shivering under control, Skypaw could only nod. "So I am training under you now...Sir?"

With a deep chuckle, the tom rose to his full height. "Yes, indeed. However, you may call me Whitestorm. Now, let's get started then."

In case anyone is wondering, I was inspired by that scene in Corpse Bride where Victor unknowingly makes is vows to Emily then tries to run away. I was originally going to do it with Alderpaw and Firestar as a sort of AU (and I still may if the inspiration hits me). Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little one-shot! Will this turn into something more? Probably not and if someone would like to use this idea, I only ask that you contact me first and just mention my name when writing more with it.

Until next time dear readers!