A/N: Next chapter! Also, I'm on the Warrior Cats Amino under WizardsGirl, come say hi!

Chapter Eighteen

"What happened?!" Flowerpaw yowled, just barely managing to skid to a stop before the ledge, paws slipping in the mud, pupils wide in shock as she looked over the edge with Sparrowwing.

"The ledge crumbled under her paws," Sparrowwing hissed, ears pinned as she peered down at the water, desperation gripping her heart as she watched her Apprentice struggle, and the CreekClan cats do nothing, just watch and wait.

"What do we do?!" Flowerpaw demanded, Sparrowwing stared down at her Apprentice, barely sparing the other cat a glance as she considered.

"Go get the nearest patrol," she said; Flowerpaw hesitated. "Go!" She yowled, tail lashing; immediately, Flowerpaw obeyed, throwing herself away and quickly disappearing. Sparrowwing didn't hesitate after that, she jumped from the ledge and into the water, letting it swallow her up and ignoring the furious yowls of the CreekClan cats.

Immediately, the cold bit through her fur, making her whole body shudder and her chest constrict, bubbles of air escaping her nose in shock as she struggled not to gasp. As soon as she could orient herself, Sparrowwing put her swimming lessons to work, lunging through the water towards the surface. When her head broke from the water, she sneezed sharply several times, trying to get water from her nose even as she swam quickly over to her Apprentice. Gingerpaw was struggling valiantly, trying to keep her head above the water, but Sparrowwing had only gotten to teach her swimming to the point that she could paddle in still water, and the steadily moving current of the over-filled creek was sending the Apprentice beneath the surface again and again, her sputtering and choking getting worse and worse as time went on.

"I've got you!" She gasped as she grabbed Gingerpaw's scruff, barely avoiding a flailing set of claws to the face, ignoring the shallow scratches left under her chin when the Apprentice landed a shallow blow. "Easy, easy, Gingerpaw!" she hissed, struggling to pull the Apprentice to the MeadowClan side of the ravine, eying the thick root sticking out of the muddy earth that she was aiming for. Gingerpaw continued to cough and flail, but now it was in a slightly less-panicked manner, Sparrowwing was relieved to note, more like half-made paddling as the Apprentice struggled to help as they crossed the water and made it to the root.

Immediately, Gingerpaw struggled to get her paws onto it, leaving Sparrowwing to take the brunt of her kicks as she fearfully mewed as she tried to heave herself up onto the slippery root.

"Easy, easy," she mewed to the younger cat, carefully releasing her scruff once she was sure Gingerpaw had gotten a good grip with her claws. As soon as she was freed, Gingerpaw scrambled out of the muddy water and huddled against the wall of earth, mewing and sneezing pathetically, shuddering from head to paw as Sparrowwing dug her claws into the root, preferring to stay in the water than risk breaking the root with her added weight. She closed her eyes briefly, thanking StarClan that Palestripe had decided that swimming was a needed skill and that she was teaching it to her own Paw. Who knew what could have happened if he hadn't taught her…

"Sparrowwing, look out!" The Apprentice yowled, and Sparrowwing twisted immediately, managing a snarl just as the white-furred she-cat lunged through the water at her, spitting furiously. The two of them smacked into one another, claws locking into water-soaked fur, and went beneath the surface with yowls and choked snarls, sending up splashes and sprays of muddy water as they struggled and thrashed against one another. Sparrowwing was at a disadvantage, not used to fighting in water, and the other queen took vicious advantage of it, pushing her deeper every time she tried to struggle to the surface.

Sparrowwing was getting desperate, struggling not to cough or breath in any more water as she struggled, her claws doing little to the other cats thick, wet fur, barely even catching on the snags of knotted pelt, though she tried her best. She even tried sinking her teeth into the others chest fur, trying to get at her neck, only to get a matted mouthful of tangled fur and receive a bite to her right ear. She yowled instinctively as she felt the other she-cat's fangs pierce through it, losing valuable air, air she couldn't afford to lose at all, and she knew that she was in trouble. She was beginning to slow, struggling to even thrash anymore, and her eyesight was getting blurry.

Spots were dancing in her dimming vision when the other queen abruptly kicked off her and swam toward the surface, leaving Sparrowwing deep in the muddy depths. For a moment, Sparrowwing was still, chest aching, eyes half closed, limbs heavy as the water slowly moved her away, pulling her deeper to what she distantly realized would be her grave. But everything was fuzzy, it was hard to concentrate on anything, let alone on what was happening around her.

She wasn't even cold anymore…

She could just… Drift away…

…

…But there… There was something… Something important…

The water around her was so dark…

Everything was… So… Quiet…

Her eyes closed slowly…

And she just…

…Drifted… Away…

Then…

Was that… A light?...

"Sparrowwing!"

What… What was that? She knew that voice…

"Don't give up now, Sparrowwing!"

…Sunflare?...

"You've got an Apprentice counting on you!"

Apprentice?...

…

GINGERPAW!

And, suddenly, Sparrowwing was there again, eye opening wide and shaking her head, twisting in the water. She'd drifted down enough that her paws sank into the thick, wet loam of the creek bed, clinging to her paw-pads and between her toes. Immediately, she used it to the throw herself toward the surface, chest screaming in pain as she sped towards the murky reflection of light on the water, the faintest echo of her brother's voice egging her on, urging her faster, giving her trembling, weak form strength. The moment her head broke through, she choked and gasped, hacking and coughing as she tried to get the water from her lungs, and the last of Sunflare's voice faded away, leaving only desperate, furious determination behind.

"Sparrowwing!" Came a distressed cry, and Sparrowwing didn't hesitate, swimming towards the sound even while she was trying to blink her vision clear. She made it partially there by the time she could see again, still coughing the entire time, and snarled as she saw that Gingerpaw had managed to force herself up further on the earth wall as, below her, the white-furred queen was swatting at her, half out of the water, braced against the end of the root Gingerpaw had been perched upon.

"Get your paws away from my Apprentice!" Sparrowwing snarled harshly, making the CreekClan cat spin around, eyes wide, just in time for the tabby to lunge at her with a harsh yowl, forcing her off the wall and into the water. This time, Sparrowwing didn't bother trying to claw the other cat through her fur, but instead went straight for her face, raking claws across the bridge of her nose and over her eyes, feeling them catch and rip one of her ears, until the other cat forced herself away, bleeding heavily from several deep cuts as they separated. Sparrowwing gasped and coughed as she forced herself up onto the wall, glaring furiously after the CreekClan cat as she swam towards her angered Clanmates. Above her and Gingerpaw, up on the ledge of the ravine, an aggressive yowl caught her attention, and Sparrowwing almost slumped in relief as Windclaw appeared, lead by the panting Flowerpaw, with Rabbitfoot and Palestripe at their sides.

Hissing and spitting, the CreekClan cats slunk away from the water's edge, but remained, watchful, as Palestripe slid his way down the mud to help urge Gingerpaw up, where Windclaw was able to pull her up by her scruff. As soon as her Apprentice was over the ledge, Sparrowwing tiredly began to climb as well, huffing softly with relief as her Mentor climbed back down to help her as well.

"Easy, Sparrowwing, easy," Palestripe murmured, a parody of how Sparrowwing had spoken to Gingerpaw just before, making her whiskers lift in exhausted amusement. Carefully, with struggling paws, she made it to the top, grimacing as Rabbitfoot and Windclaw both grabbed her scruff to pull her over the edge.

For a long moment, Sparrowwing just laid there, wheezing wetly and coughing occasionally as she did, legs trembling, and ears pinned. Palestripe licked at the cuts on her head, murmuring soothingly as Sparrowwing panted and wheezed, her punctured ear twitching sharply when he carefully licked it as well.

"I thought I taught you how not to drown in a creek, Sparrowwing," he teased her softly; Sparrowwing snorted and closed her eyes, just trying to catch her breath.

"They just, they just kept watching," Gingerpaw mewed shakily from where she was cuddled against Flowerpaw as the older Apprentice licked at her fur. "Then, then the white queen, she, she grabbed Sparrowwing and they went under water and they were fighting but the queen kept pushing Sparrowwing down and down and then she came but up but Sparrowwing didn't and then she came after me and—" She broke off, mewing fearfully and shuddering as she hid her face in Flowerpaw's chest. Sparrowwing shakily tried to get to her paws, huffing out a hoarse cough as Rabbitfoot and Palestripe braced her on either side to help keep her upright.

"Gingerpaw," she managed to meow, voice hoarse and choked as she was forced to cough; her Apprentice looked up at her, pupils swallowing up her eyes as she mewed and panted fearfully. "It's okay, Gingerpaw," she managed, staggering forward to sit, grunting slightly as the Apprentice lunged at her, burying her face in Sparrowwing slightly bloody chest fur. Sparrowwing licked at her head and ears tiredly.

"It's okay," she murmured hoarsely, eyes closing as she tucked her face between those pinned ears, shoulders slumping as she breathed in the wet scent of her Paw. "It's okay."

They stayed like that for several long minutes, before Palestripe urged them to their paws.

"I'm escorting you both straight to Rainstorm," he informed them as Flowerpaw anxiously joined them, once more holding her caught prey. "Windclaw and Rabbitfoot are meeting up with Softtail's Patrol at the Secondary Camp, they'll let the others know what happened here. You did well, both of you," he murmured as Sparrowwing began to stumble along exhaustedly after her once-Mentor. Gingerpaw was all but under her, refusing to move from her side as they stumbled along.

The walk back to the Home Camp seemed to take moons. By the time they stumbled in, Sparrowwing had developed a wet, hacking cough, much to the concern of her Clanmates and shivering mews of Gingerpaw. They'd barely even entered the Camp, when they found Rainstorm and Pebblepaw waiting for them, hackles raised in a way that spoke of StarClan interference.

"In the Den, now," Rainstorm growled, stalking over and pushing against Sparrowwing shoulder with his head, firmly pushing her towards the Medicine Den. "You'll be nest-bound for a week, if not longer. Stupid kit, you drowned," he growled furiously. "You stepped three paws into the Starpelt today and if you do not listen to me I will skin you. Understand?!"

"Yes, Rainstorm," she murmured hoarsely, stumbling on her tired, aching paws as she did.

"When we get to the Den you're going to eat your herbs and sleep," he growled at her irritably. "If we're lucky we can cut off any form of wet-cough before it settles into your lungs. Stupid, stupid kit…"

Sparrowwing barely remembered choking down the required herbs or being tended to as she curled in her designated nest. She barely noticed when Gingerpaw was curled next to her, when Pinetail frantically came to check on her kit, or when Grassrunner and Nightfur came by to check on her. For the next three days, she was in a daze, shivering with fever and exhaustion as a cold settled into her body and sickness threatened her and her Apprentice both. Thankfully, Rainstorm's herbs worked, and wet-cough took hold of neither of them.

Unfortunately, it wasn't all good news, she found out on the fourth day of her stay in the Medicine Den. Apparently, CreekClan was calling for her to appear before the three Clans at the Gathering, to explain why she thought she could trespass in their Territory. It was, according to Palestripe, a poor way to try and gain some sort of upper-paw against MeadowClan, one that wouldn't work as the entire Clan agreed with her actions and were ready to fight for her decision to save her Apprentice's life.

"It's not like they can try and claim that any of them would do differently," he informed her as they moved towards the Tallstump where FoxStar had called a Clan Meeting. "After all, that would be admitting that they'd rather their Apprentices die than risk a fight with another Clan, and no cat would say that. Especially not a Clan Leader. It would be admitting that their Clan is weak or cruel, and no cat wants to hear or say that. Don't worry," he murmured as the two of them sat. Sparrowwing bit back an exhausted sigh, not wanting to hear the slight wheeze to her breath that had settled there since her near-death.

"Tonight, is a Gathering at the Fallen Oaks," their Leader called seriously, green-gold eyes narrowed sternly. "This Gathering in particular, will bring MeadowClan under the scrutiny of the other Clans, as CreekClan has called one of our Warriors a Trespasser." Immediately, hisses and growls picked up from the crowd of cats. "Sparrowwing's actions will be judged, her motives questioned, and so the entirety of MeadowClan will be as well. We will not falter under their stares, however, for we know that StarClan itself stands behind her actions, and thus behind our own." She peered out over the gathered cats, her head held high and something fierce.

"WhisperStar was a great Leader, a Strong Leader," she called calmly, seriously. "He kept MeadowClan strong and well-fed. We mourn him now, and we will mourn him moons from now. But," she continued, a fierceness entering her meows as she spoke, "we cannot afford to be seen as something weak, to be seen as soft. We will provide a united, strong front to other Clans, no matter what our personal issues with one another may be," she added, casting her green-gold gaze between Windclaw and Sparrowwing. "There can be only unity within the Clan, especially in this Gathering. As such, I will be taking Windclaw, Sparrowwing, Rainstorm, Palestripe, Softtail, Rabbitfoot, and Grassrunner with me to the Gathering. And I shall leave behind two new Warriors to stand Vigil, and a new Medicine Cat to care for our Clanmates." Yowls of surprise, of agreement, of joy rose into the air, and Sparrowwing could only lift her whiskers as Tigerpaw, Flowerpaw, and Pebblepaw were called forward, their eyes wide and tails up.

"These three have been Apprentices for the past seven moons," FoxStar called calmly as the Clan quieted down. "Each has grown from playful kit to strong Warriors. Tigerpaw, under Blossomheart for those first six moons, and Rabbitfoot this past moon, has learned responsibility and ferocity. He has grown to be a strong, capable Warrior who will no doubt do MeadowClan proud. Tonight, he and his sister will hold Vigil, guarding our Clanmates as they sleep. We welcome you, Tigerpelt!"

"Tigerpelt!" The Clan cried, carving the name into their hearts as the large, lean orange tabby purred and lifted his head high, remaining on the stump with his sisters as he waited their own Naming.

"Flowerpaw," FoxStar spoke again, silencing the crowd. "Under the tutelage of both Windclaw and Sparrowwing, has grown into her paws. She was, in the beginning, lazy and uninspired, but she has since grown into a competent, reasonable young Warrior. Tonight, she and her brother will hold Vigil, guarding our Clanmates as they sleep. We welcome you, Flowerdust!" Once more, the Clan cried the new name into the Starpelt, and the young queen looked around them all, eyes wide, and lifted her head, whiskers high as she purred joyfully, so strong her lean, yellow body shivered with it.

"Pebblepaw," FoxStar called calmly; the fluffy, golden Medicine Cat lifted her head, eyes serene and serious, such a far cry from the skittish little runt that Sparrowwing remembered curling around in the Nursery so many moons ago… "Has been training under the watchful eyes of Rainstorm and has learned many of the secrets and practices of the Medicine Cat. She has settled into her fur, grown strong in both body and character, and her heart has become something that any MeadowClan cat would be proud of. Tonight, and until StarClan takes her, she will care for our sick and injured, help our future kits come into this world, and share the words of StarClan with us. We welcome you, Pebbledream!"

"Pebbledream!" The Clan yowled; immediately after, the three newly Named cats leaped from the stump to mingle and share scents with their Clanmates, touching heads, shoulders, and tails with every cat in the Clan. "Those Warriors Named to come to the Gathering tonight, meet at the Battle Practice clearing entrance at Sundown!" FoxStar called firmly. "May StarClan watch over and guide us," she meowed, ending the Clan Meeting and leaping from the Tallstump to cordially scent her new Warriors and Medicine Cat. Sparrowwing lifted her whiskers tiredly as Flowerdust rubbed her head against her neck.

"Thank you for Training me, Sparrowwing," she mewed quietly. "Even if I didn't want you to, at first. You taught me a lot, and I understand a little better now why you were so strict in the beginning," she admitted, and Sparrowwing could only purr as she touched noses with her cousin, the younger she-cat nuzzling her happily before padding away to go scent her Mentor and murmur to him. Tigerpelt all but tackled Sparrowwing in his joyful excitement, making the she-cat mrt in amusement as she rolled briefly with him, making sure to pull away and sit back up before Rainstorm could do more than fluff up in agitation as his patient was tussled.

"Thanks for keeping an eye out for my sister, Sparrowwing," the young tom meowed cheerfully, teeth bared in a grin and eyes bright. "She is so much easier to get along with now, and not nearly as annoying!"

"The only annoying one right now is you, brother," Pebbledream's voice chimed in, amused, as the young Medicine Cat joined them, her plumed tail sweeping out to idly brush against her brother as she critically eyed Sparrowwing's form. "Be sure to eat something besides the ragweed before you go, Sparrowwing," she ordered firmly. "And maybe chew on some mint, as well. You've still got a bit of a cough."

"Yes, thank you," Rainstorm drawled as her padded over to grumpily sit next to the tabby. "I'll thank you to mind your own patients now, Pebbledream," he groused, but Sparrowwing wasn't fooled; his gold eyes were fond as he looked over his once-Apprentice, now fellow Medicine Cat. Pebbledream could see it too, because she began to softly mrt as she touched noses with the tom.

"As you say, as you say," she replied teasingly, before quietly padding away to share scents with her mother as Sunset made a point of pinning her complaining brother down and giving him a tongue bath while declaring that he was far from being able to get away with any sort of attitude with her.

"Come along, Sparrowwing," Rainstorm ordered firmly, nudging her shoulder with his nose. "Let's get you ready to travel." Sparrowwing got to her paws with a mew of agreement and placidly followed the Medicine Cat. She knew she had nothing to worry about at the Gathering, but she couldn't help the thrill of worry that curled through her chest.

After all, the last two times she'd been to the Fallen Oaks, bad things had happened. Brownfur's death by fox, and the WoodClan Apprentice who gave her a warning from StarClan.

And, as she diligently began eating the vole Rainstorm sat before her, her tail and ears twitched in agitation. She hoped that her bad luck didn't continue, and that it wasn't an Omen for her Future. There was only so much back luck any cat would be able to take, after all

A/N: Man, this chapter just DID NOT want to be written! XC But, hey! I've got it done, I have the next one sort-of planned out, and I've joined the Warrior Cats Amino under the same User so yay! ^-^

Don't forget to Review!