A/N

LongLive234: No. Hawkpool and Jaytalon aren't ever getting back together. They now despise each other. Sorry to all the JayHawk shippers. Hawk and Jay were based off of Yin and Yang, with Hawk as Yin and Jay as Yang. They were too different, and clashed too greatly.

SuperBailey: It was, wasn't it? Ruse is a precious gayby.

Havenspirit of MoonClan: Yes, Liontail is a jerk, isn't he? Pebbletail and Hawkpool sort it out. All good couples fight at some point. Jaytalon just didn't want another love to go awry like with Hawkpool.

Guest: How do you mean? This story doesn't end for a while. If you mean after this arc, then perhaps *winks*

IMPORTANT NEWS AT ENDING AUTHOR'S NOTE!

"Oh, fantastic," Hawkpool hissed to herself as she recognized the Dark Forest's damp and dark scenery. "So much for Hollowstar protecting me."

"Well, my puppet, time for lesson one," Liontail whispered in her ear from behind, Hawkpool jumping up in surprise. She spun around and glared at him.

"Ah, don't give me that look," Liontail jeered, squishing her cheeks and lifting her chin up with an unsheathed paw. "Those are aren't your eyes after all."

"Well, they are mine now, aren't they? They're in my skull, my sockets!" Hawkpool retorted, lashing her tail and tearing away from his grip. "I know my body doesn't rest when I am here. Do you want your vessel to die from being overworked?" She taunted, a smirk on her face in hopes he would fall for it.

Liontail scowled at her. "I can always steal one of your kits if you die."

Hawkpool shook her head frantically. "NO!" She hung her head shamefully. "What do you want me to do?"

Liontail cackled, looking superior. Hawkpool felt her guts twist. If he hadn't threatened her kits, she would've never gotten into this mess.

"Follow me, puppet," Liontail beckoned, spinning around. Hawkpool trotted behind him steadily, her body burning with unwillingness and exhaustion.

"These are your new clanmates," Liontail purred, a sickly grin on his face. Hawkpool looked in horror as she saw a pawful of cats from each clan sparring with each other. Claws out.

"Halt!" Liontail commanded, the fighting ceased. They stood still, their heads raised like brainwashed soldiers.

"This is your new clanmate. She is higher than all of you. You will do well to know that," Liontail growled.

"How is Hawkpool of RiverClan special?" Dustfang of WindClan challenged, Liontail suddenly had Dustfang pinned to the mucky floor.

"She is mine, that's why," Liontail sneered. "And she is your leader. Is that clear?" He dug his claws into Dustfang's neck. He choked, nodding feebly.

"Yes!" The rest of the cats chorused. Hawkpool made a quick mental note of the cats that were present.

Streampaw from ThunderClan, though she's probably a warrior now. Dustfang, Pebblefrost and Foxpaw from WindClan, Darkflame and Lunarpaw from ShadowClan, and Mothleg from my clan, Hawkpool quickly went over the names in her head, avoiding the gaze of her clanmate that stood on the far end of the line.

"Aren't you going to say hello to your clanmates, Hawkpool?" Liontail chuckled. Hawkpool glared icicles at him, but she turned and dipped her head.

"It's nice to see you all," Hawkpool choked the words out, staring at her paws.

"Why is she even here, Liontail? Her life is fine! She's a mom with a mate!" Foxpaw snapped, his green eyes ablaze. Hawkpool felt her heart pang for Pinewhisker's son, but also a tinge of resentment.

"I assure you, I am not as gleeful as you assume," Hawkpool growled, feeling weary on her numbing paws. "Don't forget you are my kin, Foxpaw. Your father was my brother and you are disgracing his good name." Hawkpool hissed, her warm breath on his whiskers.

Foxpaw's dark green eyes narrowed with distaste at the mention of their shared blood. A low growl rumbled in his throat at Hawkpool. "Prove you're deserving of our superior. I only take orders from Liontail and the others." Foxpaw spat, baring his teeth at his aunt.

Liontail rested his thick tortoiseshell tail over Hawkpool's shoulders. "Yes, puppet, prove yourself to them, and to me."

Hawkpool suppressed a snarl. "Who do I fight to earn my rightful title?" She demanded, her red eyes drifting across the Dark Forest trainees and back to Liontail.

"Me," a voice scowled. Hawkpool whipped around, her eyes slitting as she saw Mothleg step forward. Liontail dipped his head in approval.

"Here, Hawkdrool," Mothleg growled with a sneer, "we fight with our teeth and claws out."

Hawkpool tensed as Mothleg charged at her. She stood still, leaping suddenly in the air and dropping down on his shoulders and squashing him to the ground and ripping her claws down his back. Her hatred for him fueled her, and gave her no hesitation for making him bleed.

Mothleg rolled over to squash her beneath his weight, but Hawkpool sprang away just in the nick of time. They circled each other, waiting for an opening on one of them.

Mothleg suddenly jumped at her neck, grabbing her jaw and slamming her onto the ground. He battered his hind legs into her belly, drawing blood with his unsheathed claws.

Hawkpool flipped on her other side, throwing Mothleg into a boulder. He yelled out as his back slammed into the stone. Hawkpool panted, feeling dizzy as her senses hazed. She shook herself, focusing on the battle best she could.

Mothleg stood up slowly, groaning as he stretched the muscles in his back. He hissed throatily at Hawkpool, zigzagging forward at her with quicker speed than Hawkpool knew his stubby legs were capable of.

Hawkpool darted to the side again, this time propelling herself into his side with a yowl. He let out a grunt, regaining his balance as they blindly claws at each other.

Mothleg wriggled free from Hawkpool fury of vicious swipes, leaping up and then downwards onto her shoulders. She instinctively dropped to the ground, rolling over to pin him down by his back.

Mothleg kicked his legs into her belly, Hawkpool flying off him and tumbling across the hard soil. She gasped for air, the breath knocked out of her. Her exhaustion was taking a firmer hold, now affecting her quick reflexes.

Hawkpool let out a fierce hiss, her red eyes emitting an intimidating fierceness, as if all compassion had seen sapped from her. Liontail seemed satisfied and mildly surprised. Hawkpool sprang at Mothleg, sinking her teeth into his thick scruff and shaking him senseless and tossed him into the boulder again.

Mothleg swiped his forepaws at her, aiming to pin her by the shoulders. Hawkpool ducked away from his attack, twisting away. She rolled on the ground, then bounced up onto all fours again. She felt blood trickle into her mouth. She glared at Mothleg, spitting the blood out and onto the ground.

Mothleg reared up on his back legs, attempting to bring his weight down forcefully onto Hawkpool in order to pin her; however, Hawkpool met him in the air and overtook him. She grappled with him, succeeding as she flipped him under her.

Mothleg tried to use his hind legs to perform a belly rake, but Hawkpool grinded her claws into all four of his limbs and retrained them down, leaving him defenseless. She leaned down to his throat, opening her maw and ready to tear out his throat. She could feel his heart pumping in fright and his legs shaking fearfully beneath her tight hold. His blue eyes were small in terror as he stared into her void look.

And Hawkpool liked it. She liked the feeling of power and superiority over the cat that had constantly mocked her. Saliva gathered on her sharp teeth, ready to sink into his neck. Her heartbeat roared in ears, every fiber in her being craving the taste of his blood and his pleading screams for mercy.

"Hawkpool!"

Liontail's voice drifted into her ears. She shot up her head, the blind anger from her heather red eyes disappearing. "Release him." Liontail ordered. Hawkpool looked down at Mothleg below her.

Hawkpool hissed in Mothleg's face, striking her claws over his cheek. Blood oozed from the fresh cut. Hawkpool sheathed her claws, leaping off of her clanmate.

I almost killed Mothleg… Hawkpool realized, staring at her blood soaked paws in horror. What has Liontail turned me into? Is this my power? If so, I don't want it!

She looked up at her new mentor with a confused look in her eyes. "What have you done?" Hawkpool panted, swaying on her paws.

"No, my puppet," Liontail chuckled. He stroked her face with a paw gently. "It's what you've done is the question you should ask. This is the true you. This is what the Dark Forest resurrected you for. To be a mindless, merciless warrior with no sense of pain or hesitation."

Hawkpool staggered, struggling to maintain eye contact with Liontail. Black dots swarmed her vision. She could feeling her legs wobbling.

"It seems the adrenaline of your power has been drained," Liontail gave a small humph. "Rest now."

Hawkpool closed eyes, sighing in relief as she felt sleep wrap over her like a warm, greenleaf breeze.

Hawkpool refused to open her eyes as she came to. She heard the soft snores of Briarfrost beside her. Hawkpool yawned, her eyes watering. She blinked her eyes open, yawning once more.

She scanned her surroundings, purring rumbly as she saw Leopardkit and Splashkit sleeping soundly in her belly fur. Hawkpool winced she tried to stretch. She felt stunned as she realized her soreness came from the same spots Mothleg had struck her in their fight. She imagined it would be awkward to face him in their day life rather than their training in their dreams.

She shrugged, figuring she could pass her injuries off as from the blizzard. Hawkpool's head shot up as she recognized the glow of Whitepaw's eyes from outside of the nursery.

"Oh, Whitepaw!" Hawkpool exclaimed. "Please, come in."

Whitepaw looked around hesitantly, then padded in, his eyes slitted and slowly sat down beside his mother.

"These are-" Hawkpool motioned to Leopardkit and Splashkit, but Whitepaw cut her off.

"I don't care," Whitepaw scowled. Hawkpool flinched, looking down at her son in confusion.

"What do you mean, Whitepaw? These are your siblings," Hawkpool laughed awkwardly, pushing them closer to Whitepaw. He scooted away from them.

"No," Whitepaw growled. "If you can't mother your first kits, how do you expect to raise these ones?"

Hawkpool looked shocked. Whitepaw scoffed. "You honestly haven't noticed? Hah! Reedpaw has low self esteem and believes everyone judges him because of his looks. Hazelpaw is depressed and an emotional wreck being too young of a mother and no support from you. Birchpaw is spiritless, broken shell because of how Dustsnow tortured him. He can barely walk!"

Hawkpool bristled in realization. Whitepaw was correct. "What about you, Whitepaw?"

Whitepaw let out a cackle. "You hate me!" He hissed, lashing his tail. "You hate me because of my blood! You never even talk to me anymore! Then you go and have kits with another tom as if your first litter doesn't even matter anymore! As if Jaytalon never mattered!"

Hawkpool flattened her ears, gazing up at her son with a heartbroken look. She opened her mouth to speak, but Whitepaw interrupted her once more.

"No!" Whitepaw screamed at her, unsheathing his claws into the mossy bedding beneath his paws. "YOU'RE A HORRIBLE MOTHER! YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED!"

Hawkpool felt tears prick her eyes, her mouth twitching into a frown.

"You're always with that stupid Pebblefail or babying one us so much you forget the other! Of course, I'm never the one you care to coddle!" Whitepaw hissed, his face contorting into a snarl.

"These two kits are just replacing the four of us! Reedpaw barely even knew these kits existed before he left! How is he going to feel when you've replaced us, what with his rock bottom self esteem?!" Whitepaw pointed out, tears blurring his intimidating amber eyes.

"I can't even remember the last time you talked to me! How pathetic is that? I used to think you were the best mother in the whole clans! I have my father's looks. Sometimes I wonder, what if I had his eyes? Would you hate me more if you had to look into Jaytalon's eyes every day?" Whitepaw's voice cracked, lifting his chin to try and stop his tears from falling. He failed, and the tears dripped down onto his paws. "I didn't ask for this! I didn't ask to be made!"

Hawkpool stood up, brushing away his tears before he jerked away from with a rumbly, high pitched growl, mixed with a whimper.

"H-H-Hazelpaw's daughter is dying and you are not comforting her. Birch-chpaw's retreated further into himself since Pebbletail started courting you and he was attacked by that ShadowClan filth!" Whitepaw threw his paws in the air, his fur on end and his body tense.

Whitepaw arched his back and hissed as Hawkpool stepped forward to hug him. "Don't touch me!" He snarled, his amber eyes looking feverish.

"I do love you, Whitepaw, no matter your blood," Hawkpool whispered, trying to reach out a paw to him, but Whitepaw slapped it away with a sob.

"Nooo," he moaned with a sob and congested voice. "You don't. You act all sad until someone can pick up the broken pieces that you should be cleaning up!" Whitepaw swayed on his paws, whirling away and charging out of camp. Hawkpool grunted in pain as she limped hurriedly after her kit.

Hawkpool followed Whitepaw's pawsteps in the shallow snow, lightly stroking his spine with her tail. Whitepaw shivered, his head buried in his paws and his tail tip flicking back and forth.

"Do you love me?" Whitepaw sobbed, lifting his head slightly.

Hawkpool licked his cheek. "You shouldn't ask a question you expect a negative answer to."

Whitepaw inhaled sharply, his face droopy. He let it out shakily, but halfway through, he broke down into loud wails. Hawkpool tried once more to comfort him, but Whitepaw meekly pushed her away again.

"Did you love dad?" Whitepaw choked, sniffling and wiping his face with a paw. Hawkpool sighed softly.

"Yes, I did, Whitepaw," Hawkpool mewed with a whisper. "But love can die. Jaytalon made a mistake. I couldn't forgive him, and he accepted that."

"But since I'm like him, doesn't that make you hate me too?" Whitepaw whimpered, burying his face back into the snow.

"Of course not, Whitepaw. I love you, no matter your blood relations," Hawkpool purred into his ear, grooming his cheek and head fur. "You feel warm. We should get back to camp."

Whitepaw grunted softly, but didn't budge. He'd fallen asleep.

Hawkpool pressed a paw to his forehead, feeling heat flowing from it. She gripped her teeth around his scruff, carrying him back to camp. Distress drummed throughout her being.

Whitepaw squirmed in her jaws. It reminded Hawkpool of when he was little. Guilt then struck her. He was right. She and Jaytalon spent so much time fighting during the journey, they were neglecting their kits.

Hawkpool marched through the medicine den. Morningfeather was checking up on the greencough inflicted cats. Weaselclaw, Badgerfoot, Greywillow, Jayheart, Marigoldfur, Palepaw, and Icepaw.

Birchpaw was snoring softly, a faint whistling noise sounding from whenever he exhaled. Hawkpool felt a twinge of sadness. Pinewhisker used to snore like that. Breezepaw's nest was beside his, her tail resting on his flank and her hind paw obscured by his belly fur.

"Morningfeather," Hawkpool whispered. The golden she cat looked up from tending to her mother. "Whitepaw has a chill. I don't him getting ill."

The medicine cat dipped her head. "You should get back to sleep. Dawn is on it's way." Morningfeather flicked her peach tipped tail towards the pinkish colors on the horizon.

"Before I go, will you tell me how my granddaughter is?" Hawkpool asked, feeling odd just saying the word 'granddaughter'. Morningfeather bowed her head sadly.

"I fear she won't make this night. Cloudkit has weakened every day and now the medicine isn't working," Morningfeather admitted. She brushed a paw over Cloudkit's ears. "She'll be happy with her brothers if she does pass."

"I-I'm sorry," Hawkpool choked out. "I haven't been very sympathetic."

"No, it's okay," Morningfeather mewed, yawning. "I understand. You should be apologizing to Hazelpaw. This has really shaken her. At least Eelscar can't launch a war for the kits if they are dead."

Hawkpool snarled at the mention of the ShadowClan cat. "I don't understand why we haven't attacked ShadowClan because of this. An apprentice pregnant should not have been Hazelpaw's path."

"We can't attack them, Hawkpool," Morningfeather sighed heavily. "They believe Hazelpaw came onto Eelscar, not vice versa. It would be useless bloodshed."

Hawkpool suppressed a growl rising in her throat. She sighed in exasperation. "You're right. But that doesn't change that this is unjust."

Hawkpool cast a crestfallen towards Cloudkit. She gasped and her face drained of color as two starry cats suddenly appeared at their grand-niece. Rainstorm and Pinewhisker. Rainstorm was not free of scars, but his shoulders were held higher than when he was alive. He was proud of them now.

"Hawkpool, what is it?" Morningfeather followed Hawkpool's gaze to Cloudkit, but the medicine cat saw nothing.

Rainstorm and Pinewhisker leaned down to Cloudkit, who had her yellowy eyes open and gazing up at them. They each held out a paw for her to grab. Cloudkit outstretched her paws, and her body fell limp, her spirit emerging from her now lifeless body and beside Hawkpool's brothers.

Rainstorm and Pinewhisker turned to Hawkpool, blank expressions on their faces. Pinewhisker glanced over at Birchpaw.

"He will survive this," Pinewhisker's voice echoed in her ears.

Rainstorm nodded. "He will." The former deputy meowed.

They both stalked up to their sister and stood on either side of her. They pressed and tilted their heads to hers, purring. Hawkpool blinked away tears. All three of them had tears forming in the corners of their eyes.

"We miss you," Pinewhisker whispered, licking away the tears on the left side of her face.

"And we love you," Rainstorm purred, licking the tears from the right side.

They two brothers tore away from their sister, leading Cloudkit's spirit away into the rising sun. Hawkpool cried out in protest, sprinting out of the den. She yelped as she put too much weight on the pulled muscle where Mothleg attacked her. She skidding face first in the snow, burying her face back into the ground as the three disappeared in the sky.

"Hawkpool, what did you see?" Morningfeather asked, helping Hawkpool up.

"My brothers," Hawkpool choked back her sobs. "They took Cloudkit's spirit away."

Morningfeather gasped, whipping around and back into the den. She sighed heavily, closing Cloudkit's glazed over eyes with a paw. "She's passed."

Hazelpaw stumbled into the den, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "What's the commotion about?"

"Um, Cloudkit is with my brothers, Hazelpaw," Hawkpool meowed softly, reaching out a paw. Hazelpaw let out a whimpering gasp.

"My baby!" Hazelpaw cried, sobbing into her mother's chest fur. Hawkpool hushed her softly, murmuring comforting words.

"She's happier now," Morningfeather coaxed, guiding the young queen back to the apprentice den where she slept. Hazelpaw's mourning sobs could still be heard even as Snowfall woke to comfort her.

"You told me you saw your brothers?" Morningfeather asked once they were alone. Hawkpool dipped her head, her heart heavy.

"They said, that they miss me. And they love me."

(POV Change: Snailpaw/Nightpaw)

(Recap)

"Because I'm gay!" Ruse exclaimed, staring down at his paws. Jaytalon stumbled back a pawstep in surprise.

"O-oh," Jaytalon gulped. "I-I'm sorry, Ruse… I just.. I've lost a mate before and I was scared.. I owe you an apology."

Ruse shrugged, letting out a nervous, shaky breath. "N-no, is fine. My partner died. I understand."

"But, if Wile is your blood son, wouldn't your mate have to be female?" Jaytalon asked cautiously. "I-if you don't mind me asking."

"My mate was called Jasper. He was born a she cat," Ruse sighed. "We fell in love. He may have been born a she cat, but he was tom. Gender is what feels comfortable, not what you make kits with. Like, Snowdrift doesn't comply to a gender at all."

"So, Wile is your son, but his mother, was a father?" Jaytalon asked, trying to understand.

Ruse nodded. "Yes. Jasper was merely a tom with a she cat body. He died when Wile was three moons."

"How did he die?" Lijep questioned. Cleary Ruse had never really gone into the subject.

"Jasper died from the Wrath Tribe, because they believed our love was unnatural," Ruse snarled, his eyes burning with rage. Lijep draped her thick tail over his shoulders soothingly.

"Lijep! Lijep!" Commotion from outside drew the three cats' attention. Lijep padded quickly out of the den, greeting a tall white she cat with light grey and brown dapples, grey flecks scattered around her.

"Fizz, nice to see your patrol is back. What is your news?" Lijep asked the young she cat.

"Basil spotted a cat matching the clan cat criminal!" Fizz exclaimed, her topaz eyes round.

"And? Why didn't you capture her?" Lijep raised an eyebrow. Fizz looked awkwardly down at her paws.

"She was heading into Wrath territory, ma'am," Fizz gulped. Lijep gasped softly.

"Clan cats!" Lijep called out, leaping onto the mound like hill that she addressed her tribe. "Fizz's patrol has located your fugitive. Heading into Wrath Tribe land."

Gasps of shock and horror washed over the tribe. Lijep raised her paw for silence. "All clan she cats must stay here, for their own safety. Let the toms track her down."

Nightpaw and Evie stood up in protest. "We can handle ourselves!" Nightpaw yowled. Evie narrowed her eyes at Lijep.

"We won't let that scum take us as prisoners! Let us go!" Evie hissed, standing beside Nightpaw.

Lijep sighed, rubbing her temples. "Very well. I shall assign willing she cats to the patrol to find this, Dustsnow."

"All willing clan cats, shall track down this criminal," Lijep ordered. "Followed by, Wing, Fizz, Seagull, Cheyanne, Sinbad, Rio, Nicky, Cas, Evie, Scylla, Abyss, Teddy, Misha, Balthazar, Lafayette, Astro, Selva, Blimp, Barry, Keef, Sobek, Owl, Kaleo, Timber, Fox, Swirl and Basil."

Forestclaw of ShadowClan turned to Olivestep. "I want you to stay here, safe. Please, Olivestep?"

Olivestep stubbornly shook her head. "She's my sister. She broke the code and hurt Shadefang. She won't escape my wrath." Forestclaw sighed in exasperation.

"Fine, but, just stay behind me at all times," Forestclaw pleaded. She gave in. "You are pregnant after all."

Olivestep rolled her eyes. "Only a half moon! I've still got time before I have to move into a nursery."

"I won't ask either of you to stay behind," Emberfang of WindClan meowed to Lionpaw and Sedgelight. "Because I know you can take care of yourselves, but I don't want you getting hurt. There's no shame in staying safe."

Lionpaw puffed out her chest. "I'm going with you two!" Sedgelight wrapped her tail in Emberfang's.

"And I'm sticking with you," the silver and white tabby meowed confidently. Emberfang smiled warmly.

"With my exceptional senses, I will defend you," Emberfang purred.

"I don't want you going with us and getting killed, Nightpaw!" Jaytalon begged. Nightpaw shook her head stubbornly.

"I want to prove myself! Plus, Evie will protect me! We protect each other," Nightpaw huffed, determination glowing in her good eye.

Jaytalon sighed heavily, embracing his daughter. "Fine, but you don't leave my sight. I love you, you're my only child."

"Okay, dad," Nightpaw sighed with a smile. Evie looked on with jealousy and sadness. Cas and Nicky's faces matched hers.

"The search and capture patrol heads out at dawn tomorrow morning!" Lijep announced. "Get some sleep now." She leapt off the hill, walking back to her den. Jaytalon followed her inside.

Reedpaw padded up to his sister, Snailpaw by his side. "You should rest, Nightpaw. You had a pretty traumatic experience."

"What about you?" Nightpaw blurted. "Wile was your friend!"

Reedpaw gazed dully at his sister. "He's… in better place. There's too much war here, he's happier. You're still walking on this world, so rest."

Nightpaw let out a light sigh, padding off to the den where the elders slept. She found Suede's snoring and Noir's thick fur similar to Pepperpaw's snoring and Scarletpaw's warm fur, which comforted her.

"Oh, hello, Nightpaw!" Mary exclaimed, shaking out her dark brown fur and making room for the apprentice to sleep. "We were wondering if you'd be joining us tonight."

"Of course, I am, Mary! You three are so sweet to me!" Nightpaw exclaimed, purring as she found a comfortable spot in the soft, mossy nest Mary had made her.

"Having a young cat around makes me feel young again," Suede rasped with a chuckle. Nightpaw giggled as Noir rolled his eyes to the scrawny black and white tom.

Noir had lost his sense of smell from a sinus infection, and was only probably a little older than Jaytalon. A young elder.

"Are you calling me old, Suede?" Noir asked, raising an eyebrow. Mary looked amused at the situation.

"Of course, not, Noir. Nightpaw is just a kit. Kits are spry. You are not," Suede snickered. Noir scoffed in indignance.

"Now, now!" Nightpaw waved her paws in the air. "Let's not argue. I'm sure we're all very tired after a long, cold day."

"Speaking of cold, I've waiting for Ruse to bring me those herbs for my aching joints," Mary grumbled, fidgeting in her nest. Nightpaw patted the she cat's shoulder.

"I'll be sure to ask him tomorrow, yes?" Nightpaw meowed, yawning. Mary purred thankfully.

"Thank you, young one. Sweet dreams," Mary mewed as Nightpaw draped her tail over her nose daintily.

Nightpaw grumbled as she fidgeted in her nest for the dozenth time. Mary, Suede and Noir had already fallen asleep about an hour ago. Every time Nightpaw closed her eyes, she saw Wile's body falling on top of her, with his eye hanging from its socket and his neck torn and chewed apart.

She gasped, startled by her nightmare. She stood up from her nest, carefully stepping around the three elders and sprinting noiselessly out of camp.

Nightpaw gulped nervously, feeling claustrophobic with the looming, dark trees surrounding her. Her legs wobbled as she walked. Nightpaw pricked her ears as she heard a twig snap. She yowled, jumping in the air and spinning around.

She looked down at her paws, noticing the broken pieces of the twig. She felt her face flush with embarrassment. Nightpaw sighed to herself, groaning. I'm being foolish. There's no monster or anything in these woods. Get it together, Nightpaw!

Nightpaw forced her legs firm, stiffly continuing her walk to calm her nerves. Nightpaw gasped lightly as small pile of leaves rained down on her head from in the branches of an oak tree above her.

Nightpaw turned her head up, screaming in surprise as a cat came flying down from the tree and straight into her. They rolled on the ground in a tussle, blindly scratching at each other.

Nightpaw bucked her attacker off, squinting her eyes to try and make out the cat in the darkness. She felt her breath leave her in awe and her heart stop as she saw her attacker.

The cat was a she cat, with perfect, snowy white fur and irresistible, mismatched blue and green eyes. Nightpaw choked on air, remembering how to breathe. The she cat seemed to have the same reaction, her mismatched eyes wide and sparkling with attraction.

"Who-who are you?" The she cat whispered, a soft smile creeping on her lips. Nightpaw was breath taken, her thoughts merging and surging together.

"Hi, Nightpaw! I'm new cat!" Nightpaw blurted awkwardly. Her face went blank in realization of her mistake.

"I'm Owl!" She breathed, the faintest traces of a grin in the corners of her mouth, snickering at Nightpaw's response.

Nightpaw smiled back, laughing at her silly mistake. Her face was still warm.

"Oh, wait! Nightpaw! You must be one of the clan cats!" Owl exclaimed in realization. Nightpaw nodded. Owl smirked pridefully.

"I'm on the search and capture mission! I have exceptional eyesight!" Owl bragged, puffing out her chest. Nightpaw lowered her head and slumped to the ground.

"I'm half blind, but I've got sharp hearing, I guess," Nightpaw sighed Owl perked her ears.

She sat next to Nightpaw, casually wrapping her tail around Nightpaw's flank. "I'm half deaf." Owl muttered bluntly, pointing a paw to the ear that went with her single blue eye. "In this ear."

"I guess together we make a complete cat, eh?" Nightpaw teased, trying to lighten the mood. Owl sniggered, a blush dusting her cheeks. Nightpaw's face flushed as well. Owl's laugh was like the song of StarClan.

"How come you're the night guard? I don't think your parents would approve of it. I know my dad would never let me do something like this," Nightpaw meowed. Owl's ears flattened.

"My mom left my dad and I when I was three moons old," Owl choked on her words. "My dad doesn't care what I do. He thinks I'm weaker than other cats." Owl's words were spiteful.

"My mom left when I was three as well," Nightpaw mentioned, trying to make a connection. "And my dad thinks I can't do anything either."

Owl turned to look at Nightpaw. She cracked a sad smile. Nightpaw stuck her tongue playfully and squishing her cheeks together with her paws. Owl laughed, giving Nightpaw a playful shove.

"What were you doing out here anyways?" Owl asked, tilting her head to the side. Nightpaw looked away in humiliation.

"Nightmares. I was having nightmares," Nightpaw gulped awkwardly. She shuffled her paws timidly. "Wile's dead body fell on me earlier today…"

Owl put a paw up to her mouth in astonishment. "Oh! I'm sorry! Do… do you want company?"

"I shouldn't take you away from duty," Nightpaw sighed. Owl shrugged.

"I can have Jersey take over for me," Owl huffed, walking beside Nightpaw.

"Who's Jersey?" Nightpaw echoed, trying to search her memory of the tribe cats she knew. She suddenly recalled him as a whitish tom with mucked fur.

"He's my dad," Owl said with a distasteful growl.

Nightpaw chuckled at her reaction. Their tails danced around each other, neither of them knowing in the dark.

Owl quickly led Nightpaw to the den designated for the younger cats. She pranced in, showing Nightpaw her nest. "Since you don't have a nest, we can share!"

Nightpaw's face went red. Her legs went numb and the blood pounded in her ears. She panted, collapsing in shock. Owl gasped. "Are you okay, Nightpaw?!"

Nightpaw rubbed her head. "Y-yes. I'm sorry. It's just, when two cats share a nest, it normally means they are involved romantically as mates."

Owl laughed. "I know."

A/N

YAY LOOK! A new chapter! I have some news for y'all so listen up to my words!

I recently got spacers, eight to be exact. It hurt soooo effing much, i managed to pull seven of them out, but one got too stuck. My mom rescheduled them to be put back on the 1st of August.

I wish I had never agreed to braces, which I get on the 9th, a day before my precious birthday. My birthday has always sucked; I haven't had a good one since I was six. Now I'm gonna be in immense pain. Also, the gotta pull two teeth since my bottom jaw is too small to fit my top jaw.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION HERE: I put a poll up on my profile, so got vote on it! It's vvvvvv important.

Don't forget to review. 4+ reviews guarantee a new chapter soon. No reviews or not enough mean no chapter. If you read the story, review. Also, no short, meaningless reviews. I need nice, speculation and idea filled reviews.

What do you think will happen next? Who do you ship? Who's your favorite character? Who do you want to see more of? How do you think the Dark Forest will regain power? Who do you think the new Three are?