Hi, guys. Shadowedskies here. I'm sorry that it's taken so long! School, you know. Busy ATT, and I need to get some seriously good grades this year.

Also, turns out that some people hate my stories. And it hurts, really. They didn't say sorry, they just said that they hate this and "blah blah blah." Oh well, "haters gonna hate." So I'll just shake it off and work on this chapter.

(Ok, so I'll shake it off after this good long rant... I can't help it, it justifies mah feelings.)

Oh, and there's a saying, person who "flamed." I don't know if you've ever heard of it, but it goes something like this:

"If you don't have something nice to say... CAN IT."

I work hard to produce these, ok? As in, I take my time writing these. And if ya don't like it, don't read it! Oh, and if you don't give me a better reason that this is bad, other than, "This is really bad, like the worst story I've ever read. Just saying, you should really improve... EVERYTHING!" I'll just ignore ya because that is NOT constructive criticism, just flaming. Oh, and next time, have the guts to log in. Then REALLY tell me what's wrong with this, and don't flame just because I'm some random person whose story you picked. Ok?

Geez.

Oh.

Hehe.

You're... Still... Here.

How, er, nice.

Anyways, now that I'm done ranting, on with the story!

"When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars."

~Anonymous


Starpaw padded along the trail with Mistflower. Her mind turned over the questions Sand had raised. Did they really go through that much? Why didn't Starshine care? She thought and worried about it so much, that her head ached, and she felt like she couldn't think another thought until she asked Mistflower what was bothering her so much.

"Mistflower, what is the FallenClan?" A darkness seemed to fall slowly on her vision. She looked up, expecting it to be just a cloud rolling over the sun. But there were no clouds. The sun was shining brightly on the horizon, so why-?

"The FallenClan." Mistflower shuddered. She didn't look at Starpaw, just ahead. "The FallenClan," she repeated. Then, she sighed. "It has to do with the ClanCode. You know it. It's simple to follow, but that doesn't mean that it's easy. You can't do everything you want, but the things that you aren't allowed to do are harmful." Starpaw's ears flicked.

"Like what?"

Mistflower shuddered again. "Unspeakable things. Things that are forbidden for a good reason. The ones who want "freedom" from the Code, utterly shun and disregard it, and, when they die, they go to the FallenClan. That place is full of dark things. Their sky is not full of light like ours is. It is blacker than the deepest shadows and more shadowy than a moonless sky. They have stars, and a moon, but they fail with light, and they are blood-red. The forests... They are like ours, but-" she stopped.

"But what?"

"-But at the same time-" she paused, "-Not. The trees are dead, and the grass crumbles underfoot. There is no prey there because the dead ones have no need of it. There are merely bones. Bones everywhere and the trees are like of Falling Leaf, without their plumage. But their branches are dead. They creak with the moaning wind that travels through that place like an evil being. Even the ground is cracked, and unable to bring life." She stared ahead, "It is a place of suffering." Starpaw shivered at her mental image.

"Then I will always follow the ClanCode!" she declared. Mistflower shook her head.

"Starpaw, it's not as easy as you think," she warned.

"What-?"

"Come. We are here." Mistflower looked at the darkening sky and frowned. "It's nearly time to claim some prey... Starpaw, go over to your friends. You deserve some peace." Starpaw nodded. She padded over to her friends.

"Hi, everyone!" she mewed tiredly. They nodded back and greeted her with equally exhausted meows. She went and sat next to her sister, who was, coincidentally, sitting next to Birchpaw. He shifted out of the way, so Starpaw could sit between them. He looked away and blushed under his black-and-white fur. Starpaw remembered that Birchpaw had been Treejumper and Flowerpelt's only kit that had survived past kithood. Indeed, past a few sunsets. His brother, Acornkit, and sister, Petalkit, had died soon after birth. Moonpaw nudged her. "What? What is it?"

"Dontcha NOTICE?" Moonpaw meowed, a mischievous grin playing at her lips.

"What?"

"He likes you!"

"So, Birchpaw-" Starpaw started. He looked intently at the darkening sky. A longing gaze was on his face, but a deep was red blooming under his fur.

"See?" Moonpaw giggled.

"No, he'll get over it. You'll see."

"All I see is him staring at you!" she whispered, "Do you think it's looo-"

"WHATever." Starpaw was annoyed at the romantic ideas going on in her sister's head. "You and your silly ideas!" she muttered. "Besides, I'm training to be a healer! And he wants to be a warrior! That's forbidden!"

"Yeah, but it doesn't stop SOME cats," Moonpaw quickly flicked her tail in Mistflower's direction.

"Apprentices! Come!" Skystar commanded. They all eagerly walked over to the pile and picked out each one piece of prey. All apprentices walked back to the tree. Starpaw kept a nervous eye on Shadowpaw, whose eyes were sparkling, and her fur was no less bright.

"The patrol!" a ginger cat burst into the clearing. Starpaw recognized it as Goldenpelt, a feared and respected warrior. "It- we, were attacked!" he hesitated and panted, "Two- two will never see the sun rise again." Starpaw's eyes widened as she surveyed Goldenpelt's fur. It was slashed and torn, with blood gushing freely in some places. His ears were torn, but his eyes... They were like prey's eyes. Scared. Feverish. Hunted.

"Who?" Skystar demanded.

"Spottedcloud and Roseleaf!" Grasspaw stumbled over to them.

"Spottedcloud? Roseleaf, the deputy? What happened to them?" Grasspaw inquired.

"They were, a-attacked. They are d-dead," Goldenpelt panted. Grasspaw backed away.

"No, no, please..." he whimpered, "Not Spottedcloud!" Goldenpelt limped over into the medicine cat's den.

"Let all old enough to catch their prey gather beneath the High Rock!" Skystar yowled tiredly. He waited as cats looked up from their meals, and reluctantly walked over. "Today, we have a great loss. A warrior a deputy now walk the ranks of Starshine." He shook his head. "It is my duty, soon, too soon, to choose another one who should walk my place when I go to rest in the Realm of Stars."

All cats old enough knew that he was talking about his old deputy and friend, Swiftwind, who had been in that position until twelve moons ago when he had succumbed to the Cough. Skystar's eyes trailed to the patrol that had just silently filed into camp, tugging Roseleaf and Spottedcloud's eerily unmoving pelts. He nodded as Roseleaf's russet brown pelt was placed before the High Rock. Starpaw held her breath. She hoped to see the sides take in one last gasp of air or to see the yellow-green eyes flicker open once more. Just once.

"I say this before the Creator, that He and He alone may approve my choice." He dipped his head wearily. "Roseleaf, you can't hear us here, but you can hear us now. I hope that you have gotten what was set aside for you. We will mourn you." Skystar lifted his head to the sky and closed his eyes. "I say this before the Creator, and all of Starshine, that they may encourage and guide every pawstep of the cat I choose next to walk in Roseleaf's place."

His eyes raked the crowd, intense. He stopped on a single spot, and his eyes seemed to burn.

"Cedarleaf!" Skystar called, "You will be in her place." He nodded, "Your name will also be a reminder of what happened this night, many moons into the future." He paused. "Today, we also have a gain. Shadowpaw, come." Shadowpaw's green eyes twinkled like stars as she slid across the clearing, to under the High Rock. She seemed dwarfed in comparison to the leader, who sat high up, and looked like he governed the night and day. "Echoflight! Are you sure that this apprentice has mastered the the Warrior's Way?"

Echoflight bobbed his head. "I am sure of it," he meowed gruffly.

"I ask that the Creator is thanked for allowing this apprentice to become a warrior. I call down on the Creator, and Starshine, that they may look upon this meek apprentice."

Starpaw's cheeks chuffed as she tried to keep in a laugh. In her opinion, Shadowpaw wasn't meek!

Skystar shot her a glare. "Shadowpaw! You are dead. Leave this place, and never come back. There is no Shadowpaw here!" He jumped down in front of the black, nameless she-cat that quivered before him. "I say this before the Creator and Starshine, that they may guide the thought and heart of this she-cat." He touched noses with her and looked deeply into her eyes. "You are now Shadowstorm! All hail Shadowstorm!"

"Shadowstorm! Shadowstorm! Shadowstorm!"

"Today, we also have two kits ready for apprenticeship." He nodded, and two tom-kits came forward. "Shorekit! Come." One of the kits, sand-colored, stumbled forward. "Shorekit, are you ready to learn how to fight, and learn the Way of the Warrior? To protect your Clanmates, even at the cost your life?"

Shorekit's eyes widened, "Y-yes," he murmured. Skystar raised his head to the stars.

"I say this before Starshine and the Creator, that they may guide this kit's pawsteps along his Lifepath." He looked down at the kit. "Your mentor will be Cedarleaf." He looked to the newly-appointed deputy. "Cedarleaf, I trust you will mentor this apprentice and teach him how to walk the Warrior's Way. We honor your bravery and intelligence. All hail Shorepaw!"

"Shorepaw! Shorepaw! Shorepaw!"

"Mudkit! Come!" The other kit, a dull muddy brown, walked forward boldly. "Mudkit, are you ready to learn how to fight, and learn the Way of the Warrior? To protect your Clanmates, even at the cost your life?"

"Yes," he chirped eagerly. Skystar looked to the sky.

"I say this before Starshine and the Creator, that they may guide this kit's paw steps along his Lifepath." He stared down at Mudkit. "Your mentor will be Pinebird." Skystar glanced at the grey-brown she-cat Warrior. "Pinebird, I trust you will mentor this apprentice and teach him how to walk the Warrior's Way. We honor your courage and strength. All hail Mudpaw!"

"Mudpaw! Mudpaw! Mudpaw!" Skystar nodded his head once more, and all cats went off to their dens. Starpaw bounded off to the Apprentice's Den and then settled into one of the warmest nests. Her sister settled in beside her and sighed. The two new apprentices came in, then Sunpaw, Lightpaw, Birchpaw, then lastly Grasspaw. All the other nests were taken, except for the one next to the entrance, where the chilly night air was blasting in. Grasspaw shivered. Then his narrowed keen eyes scanned the den, and came to rest on the two new apprentices, who closed their eyes sleepily.

"Awww, are the little kits up after their sleeping time?" he jeered. Then he sniffed. "That's MY nest you're in, thank you very much, MUDKIT."

"Be QUIET, Grasspaw!" Moonpaw huffed.

"Says the cat who saw Starshine? Of course!" Grasspaw sneered.

"Oh, don't listen to him. He's just a mouse-headed tick-eater," Sunpaw murmured dissmissivley, resting his head on his fiery orange, tabby paws. Shorepaw and Mudpaw's eye widened. Starpaw knew that they probably had never heard insults in the nursery.

"Tack it back, SunMUCK!" Grasspaw spat. Sunpaw's eyes narrowed, and his lips twisted into a snarl.

"Make me!"

"Oh, stop fighting, you two! I've had enough rude talk for the day!" Lightpaw snapped. All was quiet, and Starpaw had almost dropped off to sleep when-

"Starpaw. Starpaw!" She groaned, and rolled over.

"Mmm."

"Starpaw!" Starpaw got up and walked outside.

"Wha-? Wha's wrong?" She almost walked into Mistflower. Then her eyes snapped open, and she was fully awake.

"I need you to go get me some herbs as soon as you get up."

"What herbs?"

"I need fresh marigold, cat leaf, and juniper berries. As soon as possible!"

"Why?"

"Because, it's always good to be prepared." Her eyebrows rose, "And I've seen some... Disturbing... Omens lately."

"Disturbing? Like what?"

"Nothing that concerns you. Go back to sleep."

"But-"

"Go to sleep! You'll need all your energy for tomorrow, now go!" Starpaw sighed, then went back into the den, and lay down in her nest. She thought she'd never fall asleep, but she closed her eyes, and when she opened them, it was already morning.