Gah! I have had a heavy case of writers block writing this. But, I still think it turned out ok. :) Soon, more tea will be spilled!

Silverpaw walked over to the deputies den, which was a small hole at the back of the Calling Willow, to see her mentor. As she nosed her way in, she noticed that his scent was stale and his nest was cold. Perhaps he went out hunting early. She thought to herself as she padded off to the fresh-kill pile, where Frostpaw was waiting. Frostpaw! Silverpaw growled as she saw her sisters fur, shining in the early morning sun. She so desperately wanted to walk up to her sister and talk and make up, but as she padded over to her, Frostpaw growled and walked to where Greypaw was standing. The tom shot Silverpaw an arrogant, triumphant glare. She growled and padded out of camp to go hunting. As she stalked though the undergrowth, a tiny rush of brown flashed in the corner of her eye. Then she smelt it, mouse! She swivled around and saw it, nibbling away on a seed in a hollow log. How could she get to it? She then had a bright idea.

Silverpaw put her paw in one end, and it immidietly ran out the other. She chased it, herding it to the boggy part of the territory. It ran in, gettting stck in the thick mud. Silverpaw waded through, the wet mud soaking her belly-fur, turning her glossy white fur browny-green. She bit the mouse's neck and snapped up, the little wet body haning limp in her jaws. She burried it and went tp find more, staying in the bog since she was already soaked. By the time sun-high rolled around, she had two mice, one rabbit, and a thrush. She trecked home, the mud drying on her fur.

She dropped her mice and thrush, and went back to get her rabbit. Greypaw came up to her and saw what she had caught.

''What is that?'' He asked.

''Two mice and a thush.'' She growled.

''But, they are wet and muddy. Well, you dont look that good yourself. The elders will never accept that!'' He purred mockingly.

''Well, why don't you hunt yourself?'' she growled. ''Oh, and by the way, I also have a rabbit.'' and with that, she ran up the exit slope, back to where she buried her prey. Silverpaw furriously clawed up the earth where she buried her rabbit. All her anger dissappeared as she dragged the rabbit back to camp. She dumped it into the fresh kill pile. Greypaw came up to her and snorted in disgust.

''Its half mud!'' He gasped. Truth be told, only its hind paws were muddy, and it was about the length of Silverpaw, so, definately not half.

''Fine then. I shall go get Duskstar and ask him what he thinks.'' She purred. Greypaws mouth opened and snapped shut immedietly, as though his rebuke would get the leader in on it for sure. Silverpaw made her way out of camp to get to the river bordering MoorClan. As she washed, she was unaware of the pair of hazel eyes watching her. As she finished getting the mud she could off of her fur, she looked up and saw the eyes staring at her.

''H...hello? Is anyone there?'' she mewed. The small cat stepped out. The first thing that came to Silverpaw's mind was Wow. He's small. He stepped into the light a bit more, but the scent of another cat from her Clan. From the bushes, Greypaw emerged. The small tom darted back to the moors as Greypaw squared off against her.

''You, what have you done to Frostpaw?'' he growled. ''Ever since yesterday she has been sad. What have you done to her? What!?'' He yowled as he jumped and pinned Silverpaw to the ground.

''i have not done anything!'' She yowled, writhing underneath the massive tom. She didn't want to tell him about Leafpaw, although she wouldn't talk to her, she wouldn't dare betray her sister like that. As she writhed and squirmed, her energy began to become lower until she couldn't be bothered to struggle.

''What are you going to do, kill me?'' She asked.

''No, I will just make sure you don't get between me and Frostpaw ever again.'' He smirked. ''Because if you do, lets just say, it wont end well.'' As he finished, he bared his teeth in a chilling grin that sent fear through Silverpaw. The grey tom got off her and padded away. Silverpaw got to her paws, her legs shaking uncontrollably. Her breathing fast and shallow. She needed to get away, get away from everything. Silverpaw raced back to camp and climbed up a rock to get to her little cave. Outside it was a little overhang, so she sat perched on it. But when she saw Greypaw and Frostpaw, she reversed into her cave and curled in her nest.

Silverpaw woke up, dusk was near and she scrambled down onto the camp floor. Padding over to the fresh kill pile, she grabbed a thrush and a mouse. She ran to the elders den and gave them the thrush. She stepped into the clearing and ate her vole. She realised that Windflight hasn't been there for most of the day but she shrugged it off, He has other things to do. She thought as she went to sleep.

When Silverpaw woke up, there was a huddle of all many cats in the centre of camp. She scrambled onto the dusty camp floor and squeezed in the crowd. In the middle of the crowd of cats, lay Windflight's body. Battered, scarred, and lifeless. His eyes were glazed over with fear and his tail was broken. She pressed her nose into his fur and tried not to cry, first Ravenstalk was unwell from grieving, now Windflight was dead. She sighed, and layed down with him, whispering her last messages for him.

''You are safe now. I hope you hunt well, you taught me brilliantly.'' She briskly walked out of camp for a quick spot of hunting to take her mind off of the death of her mentor. She sented a mouse and crept up on it. As she got into pouncing distance, she stepped on a twig and alerted the small creature. She growled and creeped deeper into the undergrowth. Silverpaw came across a small yellow wagtail, tangled in a bramble bush. Silverpaw gently reached a paw in and pulled it towards her, but when she was going for the killing blow, it flew away, leaving her in a flurry of yellow feathers. Silverpaw lashed her tail in anger and clawed at the ground, desperate for at least one piece of prey. She growled and stalked away through the undergrowth.

After what seemed like an eternity, she came across a small mouse nibbling away on a seed. silverpaw got into the hunting crouch and pounced, pinnning the rodent and killing it with one swift bite. Finally! A piece of prey! She thought, Though it is scrawny. She padded back to camp and put her prey in the pile. She desperately wanted to not encounter Greypaw or Frostpaw, luckily, she managed to get out of camp unscathed. Silverpaw walked back to where she found the bird and took some feathers back to camp to decorate her nest, the wind started to pick up and her fur fluffed up against the wind. Leaf-fall is going to come soon. As if StarClan was saying 'yes' a leaf fell on her nose. Silverpaw entered camp with her feathers in her mouth, she lept onto the boulder and lept onto the overhang and into her cave. She lined her moss nest with the yellow feathers and weaved them carefully in the tangle of moss so that they wouldn't become dislodged when she slept. She purred and jumped down onto the hard baked floor, where Duskstar was holding a meeting.

''Cats of MarshClan, I am sad to say that Windflight is dead, and thus- we must appoint a new deputy. I saw these words before the spirit of Windflight and our warrior ancestors and hope they aprove of my choice. Mothfur, will you accept the postion of deputy of MarshClan?''

''Yes, Duskstar. I will give my life to protect this Clan.'' He mewed.

''Then, by the power of StarClan, Mothfur, you shall be the new deputy of Marshclan, StarClan strike you down otherwise.''

That was a custom of MarshClan, their faith in Starclan was enormous, and if they did not approve in their new deputy, they would be striken down.

The cats of the clan crowded around the tom and mewed their congratulations. Silverpaw purred a 'well done' and wandered away to her cave. But as she was going, she saw Frostpaw. She crept up to her, but Frostpaw just turned away. Greypaw came up and sholdered Silverpaw out of the way. He chuckled and padded away with Frostpaw, shooting a mocking glare over his shoulder. Silverpaw's fur along her spine bristled. That arrogant tom! He was such a bother! She hissed. A wind chilled her to the bone. Leaf-fall was going to be here soon. Less than a two moons. She thought.

The next morning when she woke up, the air felt fresher and wetter, it felt nice in her mouth and her scences felt sharpened. Silverpaw exited camp to go along the border, hoping to see her friends. Their scent was fresh , but they weren't there. She sighed and walked back to camp. Her coat was constantly fluffed up against the dew that lay spread on the grass, but her coat was not yet thick enough to block it out properly. Suddenly, she scented a vole. She crept up on it and got within pouncing distance. In a mighty leap, she was upon it, she gave a swift bite to the neck, and it hung limply in her jaws. As she arrived back in camp, another leaf fell before her. Another reminder that Leaf-fall was on its way, and soon, the cruel season on Leaf-Bare would place its firm grip on the forest.

Though she had been out all day, she wasn't hungry, and instead she headed towards the elders den and gave the vole to them, she also dropped a shrew she had gotten from the pile. She went to her cave and contemplated her situation. It was getting cold, nothing to enjoy there. She had no friends in her Clan, at least she had some in MarrowClan, that she could not see. At least she could go out whenever. When was she getting a new mentor? She could train on her own. She could practice her swipes on a tree stump. She could make do without anyone. She could only trust her friends- if she could call them that. Of course she could call them that! Silverpaw shook her head, it felt as if there were two little voices in her head. Like ticks, and they wouldn't go away. She lept down into the camp and sat next to her boulder. Foxkit, Antkit and Voiletkit were tussling around and Foxkit ran into her. Caught unaware, Silverpaw hissed. She realised what she had done, but it was to late, the kits were running back to her mother. She sighed and shook her head. What was happeninng to her?

Silverpaw lashed out at the tree stump, etching her claw marks into the wood. She jumped at it, landing on the top and clawing along its top. This was what her 'training' had gotten to, Duskstar had not bothered to give her a new mentor so she had to fight tree stumps and tussle with rocks and branches. She growled and bared her teeth, there was a small twig sticking out the side so she jumped at it, biting it off. She spat it out and licked her muzzle, she was getting rather thirsty and decided to go out to the MoorClan border to get some water. As she lapped up the water, she wondered what became of that small tom. She shrugged it off and padded back to camp.

''Silverpaw, where were you?'' Growled a gruff voice from behind her.

''Duskstar?'' She questioned. ''I was out training.''

''You need to ask me before, it's dangeous. Anyway, its almost twilight. Its going to be dark soon.'' He growled.

''Yes, but...''

''No but's!'' He hissed and stalked off to his den underneath the roots of the Calling Willow. Silverpaw huffed and flopped onto the floor, basking in the sunlight. The light warmed her up and gave her a new found energy, she itched to go out but she didnn't want Duskstar to tell her off again- so she groomed her shining fur.

Silverpaw punced on a leaf that ha fallen from a tree, it was still green, but it had a slight satisfying crunch under her paws. She looked longingly over the border with MarrowClan and wondered if she could just run over, saying she ran away. No you can't do that. Who are you to be in my head? Just don't run away. Fine. Silverpaw growled and padded back home. She unknowlingly came across Sheens twoleg nest and tried to see her, but the cats white gleaming fur was no-where to be seen. Should i go? No! Stop thinking about running away! She scented a yellow wagtail and stalked after it. She pounced and swiftly killed it with a bite to the neck. She brought it back to camp and dropped it in the fresh-kill pile and picked a vole. She thought of the coming leaf-fall, then of the leaf-fall hunting contest. Frostpaw was still no-where to be seen, she was probably either hith Greypaw or with Leafpaw with a 'paw ache' or 'thorn in her pad'. Silverpaw growled at the thought. Her sister was so, so arrogant, stong-willed, stubborn, annoying! She clawed at the ground and stuck her tounge out. The Leaf-fall hunting competition was bound to start in a few days, perhaps a week.

The competition was not really in leaf-fall, more the inbetween of green-leaf and leaf-fall. She was going to be the one who one and got the first piece of prey at the feat at the end of the day. She purred at the thought and imagined herself swimming in a lake of prey, filling herself up until she was full that she was going to burst. As the sun set, the Clan was having a feast, she wondered why. When she saw what the fuss was about, she mewed in delight. Sandyclaw had four healthy kits! She went in the nursery and congratulated the new mother. The kits ha yet to be named, and yet to be crowned, because when kits were born, they had a flower placed ontop of their heads, and it looked like a little crown of fur, since their heads were so small. She finished up her vole and picked up a small shrew and took it to her cave. She gulped it down slowly, surely the feast would mean that the hunting competition would be in a few days? An exitement shot through her body, the feeling tingily.

Silverpaw got to her paws and jumped onto the floor, it was the training day for the hunting competition! She was bouncy and practically levitating.

''The hunting competition is in two days, today we shall be training, then tomorrow you shall think of where to hunt and what techniques to use.'' Sounded the gruff voice of Duskstar. ''It will be a test of, who is better at hunting? Who is the stealthiest and quickest? And, who will be the best warrior?''

Silverpaw's face was full of determination and motivation. She was going to win this! Duskstar led them out of camp to he sandy hollow. There, waited Specklemask, Silverstripe, Autmnfall and Rockclaw.

''These cats will be our prey for today.'' Said Duskstar. ''You will track them and bring them back here. Here,'' he motioned to five rings drawn out in the dust. ''is where the points will be marked. But I am sure you know that already, the one with most points will win. But first, you will show us your crouches and stalks. Now.'' As if on silent signal, all the apprentices got into their best crouches.

''Good, good Greypaw. Frostpaw, lower your tail. Lavenderpaw, stop twitching that tail of yours. Cherrypaw, good, good, good. Silverpaw, nice, good. Now stalk, starting off with Greypaw.''

Greypaw stalked forward seemingly perfectly.

''Keep your weight on your haunches, and slow down. Frostpaw, you next.''

Silverpaw's sister stalked forward. ''Keep your tail lower. Other than that, it was alright. Cherrypaw?'' Cherrypaw stalked on forward. 'Good, good. Lavenderpaw? Nice, good. Silverpaw, now you.''

Silverpaw stalked forwards, keeping her weight on her haunches and tail flat. She felt as if nothing was wrong, though Duskstars burning gaze scorched into her fur.

''Good, good,. Perfect.'' Silverpaw felt a glow of pride swell up in her chest. She purred and felt a new found determination.

''Now, it is time for the hunting. All of you, hide.'' The four warriors fled into the undergrowth. ''Now you five, remember, the one with the most points will win. Go.'' With that, the five apprentices fled into the undergrowth. Silverpaw picked up the cold, rocky scent of Rockclaw. She crept after him and saw the tom underneath a bush. She crept up on him, but from out of nowheree, Greypaw launched into the bush and ontop of Rockclaw. Silverpaw growled and stalked off. Greypaw! That was mine! Suddenly, she found the scent trail of Specklemask, where it led her to a marsh. There he was, truging through the mud. Silverpaw saw him stuggle, as his long lanky legs fumbled in the med. Silverpaw used that to her advantage and waded through, her stocky legs pushing her through as she made her way to him. She clambered ontop of him and bit his scruff and led him to shallower marsh so she could lead him to the hollow, they raced to the sandy hollow and got her point registered. Specklemask then ran off. silverpaw smelt the air and found the scent of Silverstripe. As she crept through the undergrowth, she saw him, dashing across the open ground. Silverpaw dashed after him, she saw him going for a tree. She lept after him, but he was already up the tree. I am not throwin away my shot at pleasing Duskstar! She thought as she climbed up the tree after him. She found the climb hard, but managed to grab his tail and pull herself up to his leg.

''Got ya!'' she panted as they carefully climbeed down. THe two of them raced back to the hollow, she got her point registered, and fled back into the undergrowth. Sun-high was almost here, she needed to win! She found the scent of Rockclaw and saw him grooming himself under a bush. She pounced underneath the space underneath the bush and pinned him. She ran back with him and got her point registered. Silverpaw was getting a bit tired but she needed to keep going. She crept through the undergrowth, smelling bthe air for any sign of any cats. Then finally, she saw Atumnfalls orange coat. She padded closer, and saw him sleeping in an old badger set. As she stepped in, he woke up and tried to slip out, but Silverpaw lept at him, pinning him to the wall.

''Come on, we need to get back! I need that point!'' The two of them dashed through the undergrowth. They got back and Silverpaw's body dropped onto the floor as Duskstar announced the winners. ''In last came Cherrypaw and Lavenderpaw, with three points each.'' The two she cats didn't look upset, they just smiled and purred a 'congrats' to eachother. ''In third is, Silverpaw.'' Silverpaw's mouth dropped. That means, Greypaw could have won! ''Second place is, Greypaw.'' Greypaw's face turned into a scowl. ''And first place is Forstpaw, with 6 points.'' hewer sisters face lit up with pride. ''Now go have a break and practice tacktics for tomorrow.'' The apprentices ran off, Silverpaw lagging behind. At least Greypaw didn't win. But we didn't win either! Shut it you. Ok, but i be that arrogant ball of fluff will be smug and annoying.

Silverpaw sat infront of her boulder thining of tequniches to use. She could create a pile of plants and seeds and hide in the trees, and when a bit of prey comes, she could catch it, and anything else. Or I could do it next to a hole under a tree and grab it when it comes close. I could also check around twoleg place, see what birds or animals there are there. Yes, the plan was foolproof. I could also see what there is by the stream. She thought. She picked up a shrew from the fesh kill pile and ate it, though she fancied a bit, fat vole. Silverpaw yawned and sat next to her rock and bathed in the sun. She needed all of her energy for the competition. She was going to win. She was. She had to. Where her last thoughs as she drifted off in a deep sleep.

Silverpaw truged though the forest to the twolegplace to see what prey lived there. There were a lot of sparrows and even some wood pigeons. Perfect. Now all I need are some seeds. Suddenly, she had an idea.

''Sheen!'' She called out over the fence. In a few moments, she white she-cat was ontop of the fence. ''IH, its you! What was it? Silverpaw! Yes, yes. What is it you need?''

''Do any of the other gardens have seeds and plants or anything that birds like?'' Silverpaw asked.

''Oh, yes! I can get some if you want! There are lots.'' Sheen walked along the fances and lept into a garden. She came back with two green pod of some sorts, a few big flowers, a few leaves, and a soft white slab. ''This,'' she pointed to the white slab. ''is bread. Birds and mice love it! This green thing, is a pea pod. Mice and rabbits might like it. These big flowers, just shake them and a few seeds will come out. These leaves, the sparrows love them!'' Silverpaw took them all and decided she needed to hide them.

Silverpaw made several trips in and out of camp to convert the things into camp. She took some seeds, a leaf and a small bit of the white soft stuff. She hid the rest in a hole in her small cave. She took the bits she took and placed them next to a tree and ran up the top. After a while,animals started to come. When there were about, three mice and two birds arrived. Silverpaw jumped down and landed ontop of two mice and a bird. She swiftly gave them all a bite to the neck and stored them in a small hole under the tree, she managed to fit in and waited. One by one, small creatures arrived. Two birds and a mouse arrived, and when they came, she swiped a paw and clawed their necks, then dragged them back under. This is very effective. She brung them back to camp and dropped them in the pile. This was going to be amazing!

tHe next morning, Silverpaw snuck out just after Dawn and placed her items underneath a tree and blocked it with a pile of sticks. It was nearly sun-high. Thew competition would be soon., Silverpaw went over her tactics and prepared herself. She looked proud with herself and sat grooming her chest. She saw her sister ooking at her confusedly. Silverpaw rolled her eyes and Greypaw walked over to her.

''What is the matter with you? You are so stange.''

''And you?''

Greypaw growled. ''Why do you assume you're the smarted in the room?''

''Because I am.'' Silverpaw said as she got up to get some prey.

Sunhigh finally came around as Duskstar led the way to the sandy hollow. There were five holes.

''Silverpaw, this is yours.'' He pointed to one hole that looked odd, as if it was made by a giant cat. She shrugged it off and was ready to run off into the undergrowth. Unlike the others, she knew where she was going. ''GO!'' yowled Duskstar.

Silverpaw shot out to her tree. She moved the sticks and grabbed some leaves, a pod, the big flower and a few leaves. She covered the hole up and padded to a different tree, put the things down, and waited. Soon after, there were two mice, and three birds. Silverpaw jumped down and clawed two birds and both mice- though one bird got away. She grabbed the prey and buried it. She then hid her plants back in the tree hole and went back for her prey. She dumped them in the hole and went back for her stuff.

She put all the things she just used next to the tree hole and hid in it. As the aniumals started to come in, she dragged two mice in the hole and a rabbit. Silverpaw got impatient as the food started disappearing, so she jumped out. The small creatures scattered, but she managed to catch some dazed mice, voles, and a small bird. She put the voles in the den underneath whilst she bought the mice and bird. She hurriedly brought back the voles. Six pieces. I am winning! She grinned.

She pushed the bait back in the hole and patche dthe hole with sticks and went to hunt by twolegplace. There, she caught a couple of sparrows and placed them in her hole. Silverpaw looked loningly at the mountains, but she needed to win. Her bait was almost gone. She put the rest outside the tree hole and grabbed some mice, a bird and a rabbit. She dragged the rabbit to the sandy hollow and put the mice and birds. Eleven pieces! I am going to win! She then saw Greypaws pile. Twelve pieces! Suddenly, he came out the with a bird and mouse. It was dusk, the competition was over. Silverpaw growled and ran off back to camp.

''Cats of MarshClan!'' He yowled. ''The leaf-fall hunting competition was sucessful! Cherrypaw came back with 10 pieces of prey, as did Lavenderpaw. Silverpaw came back with 11 pieces. Frostpaw came back with 10 pieces as well- and Greypaw, came back with on impressive 14 pieces!'' She scowled at the grey tom. He must have cheated! She took a vole and squirrel. Ravenstalk crept up on her. she half-heartedly purred a 'well done.'

Silverpaw purred a thanks and ran back to her cave, where she ate them watching night's grip solidify on the world. The night was cold.

''Awesome, wow!'' She growled

At least she did well. Now that prey they caught wouyld be stored in a cold hole in the ground. But she couldn't still feel dissapointed that Greypaw had won. He had to have cheated! She growled and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Silverpaws conversations in her head were based of my conversations about life, like 'What is right?' or 'Why did Hamilton write the Reynolds Pamphlet?' which are two sided for some reason...

Also, hey! I am alive, and... this chapter is (lets see.) 4,648 words! (includiong this bit in bold.) the tea will be getting hotter in a bit! Anyways, bye and 'you'll be back!'