IMPORTANT: So..um...hi. It's been awhile but I'm back. I went through a long period of just not being motivated and I wasn't really into Warriors but I'm back and excited to continue this fic. What with the coronavirus and quarantine I should have a lot more time to write.

I thought it might be fun to do a Q&A of sorts since I'm back so if you have any questions about this fic or me or something else I'd be happy to answer them in the next chapter.

Chapter 6

ShadowClan

When Waterpaw awoke, it was still dark. Moonlight streamed in through the den entrance, illuminating Hazelrose as she poked her head through the entrance. Waterpaw leapt to her paws.

"Are we going on dawn patrol?" she asked. Hazelrose nodded, gesturing for Waterpaw to follow her.

They met Hawkshadow, Sunburst, Littleclaw, and Pinepaw at the thorn tunnel. As they padded through the tunnel, Pinepaw fell back to walk beside Waterpaw who smiled at her. She'd never really spoken with the older she-cat, aside from a few comments here and there.

"Do you like being an apprentice so far?" Pinepaw asked.

"Yes," Waterpaw said. "I love it. Hazelrose is so nice!"

"I know." Pinepaw grinned. "I'm glad her and Oakdust are mates. It would be horrible if he were mates with someone as awful as Ravenwing."

Waterpaw purred in agreement. Ravenwing wasn't a horrible she-cat, but she tried a little too hard to make cats like her and Waterpaw wouldn't go out of her way to spend time with her. Poor Snowpaw.

"Do you think there will be a battle any time soon?" Waterpaw asked. She'd heard talk of battle between ShadowClan and ThunderClan but so far, nothing had occurred.

"ThunderClan has been stealing a lot of prey lately." Pinepaw said. "I wouldn't be surprised if Redstar decided to attack them. I probably would too."

Pinepaw wouldn't make a very good leader, Waterpaw thought.

"Do you want a battle?" Waterpaw turned to look at the other she-cat, cocking her head.

"Of course not!" Pinepaw exclaimed. "No one wants a battle. Sure, I mean, it could happen and I'll hope to be in the ambush, but I certainly don't want a battle."

Waterpaw blinked. "That makes sense." She said.

The patrol came to a halt at the ThunderClan boarder. They quickly marked the boarders and were about to set off when a horrible smell drifted towards them.

Waterpaw scrunched up her nose in disgust. She turned to Pinepaw to see her doing the same.

"What's that smell?" she complained. "It's disgusting!"

Littleclaw padded over to them, nudging a dead thrush along. He nodded towards it. "Crowfood. From ShadowClan territory. On ThunderClan's side of the border." He growled. Hawkshadow frowned. He leaned forwards and sniffed the thrush.

"Bury it. We'll head back to camp and report to Redstar." He said. Littleclaw buried the thrush and they began on the journey back.

When they entered camp, cats were milling about, chatting and eating fresh kill. Snowpaw and Icepaw lay beside the fresh kill pile, sharing tongues. Waterpaw padded over to them and grabbed a mouse of the pile. She sat down and began to eat, listening in on their conversation.

"I can't wait for the end of leaf-bare." Snowpaw was saying. "Then the flowers will bloom and we'll be able to see them."

"You and your obsession with flowers," Icepaw purred. "I swear you'll name all your kits after flowers."

Snowpaw ducked her head in embarrassment. "Well…Rosekit and Lilykit are good names…" she defended. Icepaw laughed, shaking her head in mock shame.

"I'm sure you'll get to see lots of flowers," Cinderlight padded up behind them, smiling. "Leaf-bare will be over soon enough."

"Hi mama!" Waterpaw chirped. Cinderlight smiled at her and swiped her tongue over Waterpaw's ears, ignoring her squawk of disgust.

"Hello Waterpaw." Cinderlight purred. "Were you on patrol?"

"Yes!" Waterpaw said, excitedly. "We went to the ThunderClan border and there was crowfood."

Cinderlight paused in cleaning Waterpaw and leaned back to examine her, eyes serious. "Are you sure?" she asked.

Waterpaw shrugged. "Well, that's what Littleclaw said."

Cinderlight turned her head to glance towards Redstar's den. When she noticed Littleclaw speaking with Redstar in hushed voices, she shifted her eyes towards Flamestripe who caught her gaze and padded over to them.

"What's going on?" Flamestripe asked as he sat down. Icepaw scooted over to make room for him and then relaxed against him as he started to groom her. Flamestripe grinned at Snowpaw and pulled a face at her.

"Waterpaw said the dawn patrol found crowfood at the ThunderClan border." Cinderlight mewed. Flamestripe's head jerked around to stare at her, worry masking his face. His eyes then turned to Waterpaw.

"You're sure?" he asked.

"Yes." Waterpaw said for the second time. "It was a thrush and it was from our territory."

Flamestripe exhaled loudly.

"What's the big deal?" Icepaw asked. "It's just a thrush."

"It was from our territory." Cinderlight mewed, licking Icepaw gently on the cheek. "That means ThunderClan cats were on our territory."

"They've been pushing for battle for a while now." Flamestripe commented. "It's like they want one."

"Maybe they do." Snowpaw said, glancing up at Cinderlight with large amber eyes. "Will we have to go into battle, mama?"

"I'm sure you won't." Cinderlight relied quickly. "You're still training and Redstar won't send you in if you're not ready." She looked up and met Flamestripe's eyes. "Right?"

Flamestripe looked uneasy and didn't meet her gaze when he replied, "Right."

He then stood and turned to Cinderlight. "I must go and speak with Redstar." He said. Cinderlight nodded, still looking concerned. Flamestripe gently licked her cheek and then padded over to where his brother sat, still talking to Littleclaw.

"What do you think, mama?" Snowpaw asked, scooting over to lay next to Cinderlight.

"I'm not sure, darling." Cinderlight mewed, her eyes softening as she looked down at Snowpaw. "I hope there's not battle but you never know."

"Well, I for one hope that we have a battle." Icepaw butted in. "I want to kick some ThunderClan butt."

"What about a battle?" Firepaw asked, padding over to them and settling down with a mouse. He bit into the mouse and glanced up at them as he swallowed.

"The dawn patrol found a thrush from our territory on ThunderClan's side of the border. There might be a battle!" Icepaw said, excitedly. Firepaw grinned.

"That'd be awesome!" he said.

"Don't talk about battle like that!" Waterpaw cried. She glared at her littermates. "Cats die in battles! They aren't just for your entertainment!"

Icepaw rolled her eyes but Firepaw had the decency to look ashamed.

"Oh, lighten up." she groaned. "Don't deny it. You want a battle too."

Waterpaw opened her mouth to tell Icepaw that no, actually she didn't but Cinderlight interjected.

"Your sister is right, Icepaw." She said. "Battles are very serious matters and shouldn't be taken lightly. I hope that in the future you consider that before you start wishing for fights to start."

Icepaw glared at Waterpaw and stomped off, her tail lashing in the dust. Waterpaw turned to Cinderlight to tell her goodnight but her mother was already smiling down at Snowpaw as she told her about flowers again.

Sighing, Waterpaw stood and walked over to the apprentices' den, crawling into her nest and curling up. She closed her eyes and was asleep in seconds.

Allegiances

ShadowClan

Leader: Redstar – dark ginger tabby tom with a white underbelly, chest, muzzle, and paws, and amber eyes

Deputy: Hawkshadow – dark gray and white tabby tom with yellow-amber eyes

Medicine Cat(s): Nightpool – sleek black she-cat

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Flamestripe – dark ginger and white tom

Eagleflame – ginger and white tabby tom with amber eyes

(Apprentice, Tigerpaw)

Morningsky – pale blue-gray she-cat with blue eyes

(Apprentice, Icepaw)

Cinderlight – blue-gray she-cat with blue-green eyes

Sunburst – small golden and orange tabby tom with green eyes (daughter: Wildkit)

Littleclaw – small dark gray tom with green eyes

(Apprentice, Pinepaw)

Mosstail – dark brown tabby she-cat

(Apprentice, Firepaw)

Oakdust – long-furred light sandy-brown tom with brown eyes

(Apprentice, Thrushpaw)

Hazelrose – brown and white tabby she-cat with green eyes

(Apprentice, Waterpaw)

Dustcloud – pale brown tom with a white underbelly, paws, and blue eyes

Ravenwing – sleek black she-cat

(Apprentice, Snowpaw)

Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)

Tigerpaw – dark brown tabby tom with green eyes

Icepaw – white she-cat with blue eyes

Pinepaw – black she-cat with green eyes

Firepaw – dark ginger tabby tom

Thrushpaw – dark brown tabby she-cat

Waterpaw – pale blue-gray she-cat with green eyes

Snowpaw – gray and white tabby she-cat

Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)

Sparkpelt – orange tabby she-cat; mother to Dustcloud's kit: Cherrykit (cream and ginger she-kit); foster mother to Stormkit (tortoiseshell and white she-kit) and Wildkit (small calico she-kit)

Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)

Patchtail – small black and white tom

ThunderClan

Leader: Foreststar – white tom with dark brown tabby patches and green eyes

Deputy: Emberfeather – small, short-furred ginger she-cat with amber eyes

(Apprentice, Sootpaw)

Medicine Cat(s): Leafheart – brown and white tabby she-cat

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Stagleg – black tom with brown legs and paws and yellow eyes

Dustwhisker – ginger she-cat with brown patches

(Apprentice, Smokepaw)

Honeyflower – slim golden tabby she-cat

Spottail – calico she-cat with pale green eyes

Pigeonwing – large dark brown tabby tom

Icefang – white she-cat with pale yellow eyes

(Apprentice, Patchpaw)

Blizzardfrost – large gray and white tom

(Apprentice, Lovepaw)

Dewtail – large black and gray tom

(Apprentice, Russetpaw)

Harestorm – ginger tabby tom

Rowanfur – dark brown tabby she-cat with green eyes

(Apprentice, Breezepaw)

Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)

Smokepaw – blue-gray she-cat

Sootpaw – dark gray tom

Patchpaw – ginger and white she-cat

Russetpaw – dark ginger she-cat

Lovepaw – black she-cat

Breezepaw – black tom with ice blue eyes

Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)

Lilyfoot – long-furred dark gray and gray she-cat with hazel eyes; mother to Stagleg's kit: Gracefulkit (silky, fluffy, black she-kit with hazel eyes)

Lavendermist – blue-gray she-cat; mother to Pigeonwing's kits: Redkit (cream she-kit with red stripes), Lambkit (white she-kit), and Bluekit (blue-silver she-kit)

Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)

None

LightningClan

Leader: Silverstar – black she-cat with silver paws, spots and bright amber eyes

Deputy: Ashfang – gray and black tom

(Apprentice, Blizzardpaw)

Medicine Cat(s): Mistyheart – dark gray she-cat

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Rivertail – blue-gray tom with black and white paws

(Apprentice, Stagpaw)

Thrushtalon – pale brown tom with green eyes

(Apprentice, Frozenpaw)

Birchpelt – light gray tabby tom

(Apprentice, Crimsonpaw)

Timberclaw – brown tabby tom

Berryfur – orange she-cat

(Apprentice, Typhoonpaw)

Tawnysky – tawny brown she-cat with amber eyes

(Apprentice, Troutpaw)

Moonflash – silver she-cat

Fireblaze – fire coloured tom

Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)

Stagpaw – gray tom with black ears and one black paw

Troutpaw – gray she-cat with golden eyes

Crimsonpaw – ginger tabby tom with aquamarine coloured eyes

Frozenpaw – pale gray she-cat

Typhoonpaw – gray tom with yellow eyes

Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)

Blacksong – black she-cat with soft blue eyes; mother to Rivertail's kits: Shadekit (black tom with dark gray stripes and blue eyes and Bluekit (blue-gray she-kit with silver spots and green eyes)

Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)

Redhollow – black tom with russet spots and amber eyes

WindClan

Leader: Moorstar – light brown tabby tom with green eyes

Deputy: Whitesong (currently in the nursery)

Medicine Cat(s): Cloverleg – brown, gray, and white she-cat with golden eyes and a lame leg

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Fungustail – smoke gray and cream tom

(Apprentice, Duskpaw)

Mothtail – pale cream she-cat with three gray paws

(Apprentice, Emberpaw)

Clayspots – tortoiseshell tom with amber eyes

(Apprentice, Rainpaw)

Sunpatch – golden and white tom

(Apprentice, Stormpaw)

Brownfur – light brown tabby tom

Ashenwing – gray she-cat with green eyes

(Apprentice, Dustpaw)

Dashfoot – pale gray and white tom with green eyes

(Apprentice, Rabbitpaw)

Flowerfoot – pale brown tabby she-cat

(Apprentice, Murkpaw)

Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)

Duskpaw – dark gray tabby tom

Emberpaw – gray tom with yellow eyes

Rainpaw – gray tabby she-cat with blue eyes

Stormpaw – dark gray she-cat with gray eyes

Dustpaw – pale brown tabby she-cat

Rabbitpaw – light brown tabby she-cat with a white muzzle, chest, and paws

Murkpaw – sleek black tom

Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)

Whitesong – fluffy white she-cat with one amber eye and one ice blue eye; mother to Moorstar's kit: Iriskit (brown she-kit with a white chest and paws)

Ferndapple – dappled black, brown, and ginger she-cat with a white underbelly, chest, muzzle, and paws; mother to Nightkit (black tom) and Applekit (orange she-kit)

Squirrelfoot – dark brown tabby she-cat; mother to Snakefire's kits: Blackkit (black tabby she-kit), Bramblekit (dark brown tabby she-kit), and Beetlekit (black tabby she-kit)

Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)

Bluebreeze – blue-gray tabby she-cat with pale green eyes

Poppywing – blind tortoiseshell she-cat

Grayheart – battle scarred pale gray tom with deep green eyes

RiverClan

Leader: Alderstar – dark brown tom with yellow eyes

Deputy: Foxclaw – gray and ginger tom

(Apprentice, Minnowpaw)

Medicine Cat(s): Volestripe – dark brown tabby and white tom

Swiftbirch – messy furred cream and white tom with a light brown muzzle and yellow eyes

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Shadepelt – large black tom with dark green eyes

Reedtail – golden-brown tom with blue eyes

Icescar – white tom with a scar along his left flank

Trouttail – white tom with gray patches

(Apprentice, Perchpaw)

Pearlpelt – white she-cat with yellow eyes

Dewdust – mute dark gray she-cat with amber eyes

Palestripe – pale cream tabby she-cat with hazel eyes

Pinemask – very dark brown and black tom with hazel eyes

(Apprentice, Eskerpaw)

Smokefoot – black tom with white paws, muzzle, and tail tip

Lightningstrike – golden tom with amber-green eyes

(Apprentice, Rabbitpaw)

Mistywater – very pale gray she-cat with green eyes

Moonheart – brown she-cat with white paws, muzzle, and tail tip

Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)

Minnowpaw – white she-cat with golden-brown spots and yellow eyes

Perchpaw – golden-brown tom with a white underbelly and yellow eyes

Eskerpaw – light gray tom with blue eyes

Rabbitpaw – very fluffy white tom with strong hind legs

Blizzardpaw – lean dark brown she-cat

Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)

Featherheart – white she-cat with dark blue eyes; mother to Smokefoot's kits: Spottedkit (black and white tom), Darkkit (black tom), Shykit (white she-kit), and Dovekit (white she-kit)

Pebblespots – gray she-cat with darker spots; mother to Icescar's kits: Shadekit (gray and white she-kit), Mottlekit (gray tom with darker spots), Brackenkit (white tom with brown patches), and Sunnykit (gray and white she-kit)

Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)

Icyeye – gray and white tom with ice blue eyes

SkyClan

Leader: Stormstar – pure white tom with ice blue eyes

(Apprentice, Thornpaw)

Deputy: Ravenflight – black tabby she-cat with deep green eyes

(Apprentice, Bramblepaw)

Medicine Cat(s): Lilywish – pretty silver tabby she-cat with yellow-green eyes

(Apprentice, Morningpaw)

Warriors (toms and she-cats without kits)

Cloudsoar – gray and white tom with blue eyes

(Apprentice, Eveningpaw)

Iceflight – large white tom with golden eyes

(Apprentice, Lilacpaw)

Flightheart – white tom with ginger splotches

(Apprentice, Midnightpaw)

Blizzardshade – lean dark brown she-cat

(Apprentice, Sagepaw)

Nightspots – white tom with black spots

Hayblossom – dilute calico she-cat

Apprentices (toms and she-cats training to be warriors or medicine cats)

Thornpaw – sandy gray tom

Bramblepaw – small dark brown tabby tom with green eyes

Morningpaw – beautiful scrawny small white she-cat with golden, red, and orange patches and black paws; bright blue eyes

Eveningpaw – beautiful scrawny small white she-cat with golden, red, and orange patches, bright amber eyes

Lilacpaw – long-furred dull ginger she-cat with green eyes

Midnightpaw – black tom with golden, and yellow spots; amber eyes

Sagepaw – cream and white tom

Queens (she-cats nursing or expecting kits)

Bloomshadow – tortoiseshell she-cat with hazel eyes; mother to Stormstar's kits: Tanglekit (pure white tom) and Littlekit (small tortoiseshell she-kit)

Moonspirit – silver she-cat with gray stripes and green eyes; mother to Flightheart's kits: Whispkit (silver she-kit), Branchkit (brown tom), and Frostkit (silver and white she-kit)

Elders (former queens and warriors who are now retired)

Orchidpounce – cream coloured she-cat with brown paws

Cloudfang – white tom with green eyes

Treebird – brown she-cat with blue eyes

Pooltail – silver tom with green eyes

Cats Outside Clans

Willow – pale tortoiseshell and white she-cat

So just a reminder about the Q&A. Ask any questions you like in your review and I'll try to answer them. I think I had something else to say but I can't remember what it was...

Oh, yeah! If you have submitted an OC and there is a specific cat you would like them to become mates with, let me know in a review. Keep in mind, I have already given some cats mates so if I have, I likely won't change it.