Guestpersonanonymous: Thank you!

The Age of Awesomeness: I love the questions! I like to know people are interested! As for the questions, I can't give away any answers but that will be source of drama in the book. But yes, his parents were in love, but his birth was an act of rebellion and grief.

Sunripple: Perhaps.

Thanks guys! I love getting these reviews!

;D

-Silverstripe689

ShadowClan

Leader-

Duskstar-

Copper and black mottled she-cat with ice blue eyes

Deputy-

Wildblaze-

Ginger tom with wild, spiked fur with cream underbelly, paws, and splash on chest, with dark ginger stripes and yellow-green eyes

Medicine Cat-

Stonestripe-

White tom with silver tabby backside, tail, and haunches along with deep amber eyes

Warriors-

Berrybright-

Tortoiseshell she cat with cream patches and green eyes

Apprentice- Mudpaw

Spiderfur-

Jet-black slim tom with navy blue eyes

Shiverfawn-

Silver she cat with white dapple and light blue eyes

Dovesoar-

Fluffy gray she-cat with rich amber eyes

Apprentice- Strikepaw

Sparrowcall-

Thick-furred light brown tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Apprentice- Slashpaw

Hawktail-

Lean white tom with black tabby stripes and blue eyes

Fernfrost-

Mottled gray, brown, and white she cat with pale green eyes

Scorchflower-

Light ginger she-cat with red-brown points and deep green eyes

Snowspring-

White she cat with dark gray paws, silver ear tips, and blue eyes

Pinesweep-

Black tom with silver eyes

Tigerstripe-

Light brown tabby tom with mottled brown and black spots and green eyes

Apprentice- Tabbypaw

Swallowleap-

Lean blue-black tom with a gray-blue tail and gray-green eyes

Tangleclaw-

Brown-white-gray she-cat with thick scruffy fur and gray-blue eyes

Apprentices-

Mudpaw-

Light brown tabby tom with dark brown tabby stripes and amber eyes

Tabbypaw-

Light brown tabby she-cat with a poofed white-tipped tail and amber eyes

Slashpaw-

Gray tom with white dashes on fur and one over his left eye, navy blue eyes

Strikepaw-

Dark amber tom with jet black tabby swirls, mottled leopard spots, over light amber points, and jet black paws and markings on face and tail, with dark amber eyes

Queens-

Lilystripe- (Mother to Breezefang's kits)

Dark gray she cat with black tabby stripes and green eyes

Willowkit-

Wispy Silver tabby she-cat with yellow eyes

Echokit-

Frosty-silver wispy-furred she-cat with deep blue-green eyes

Breezekit-

Silver and white she-cat with yellow eyes

Mosssplash- (Carrying Pinesweep's kits)

Black and white she cat with amber eyes

Elders-

Emberflight- Jet-black tom with flaming amber eyes

Adderstorm- Dark brown tabby tom with blue eyes

Dustswirl- Brown tabby she cat with dark brown tabby swirls and navy eyes

Ivycoil- Old tortoiseshell she cat with silver patches from age

ThunderClan

Leader-

Snowstar-

Huge white tom with amber eyes

Deputy-

Vinewhisker-

Light gray tom with white splashes, big blue eyes, and long whiskers

Medicine Cat-

Dappleleaf-

Tortoiseshell she cat with blue-green eyes

Apprentice- Honeypaw

RiverClan

Leader-

Rushstar-

Ginger and white tom with green eyes

Deputy-

Frogjump-

Dark gray she-cat with white mottle and yellow eyes

Medicine Cat-

Sandstep-

Thick, messy furred light yellow tom with gray-green eyes and protruding lower jaw

Apprentice- Beechstep

WindClan

Leader-

Moorstar-

Cream-brown tom with brown ears, tail, and paws, with blue eyes

Deputy-

Peatfeather-

Longhaired gray-brown mottled she-cat with light blue eyes and a white tail tip

Medicine Cat-

Falconwing-

Light brown lean tabby tom with amber eyes

Chapter 7

Strikepaw watched as Duskstar emerged from her den, eyes glowing in the fading light. She let out a vicious yowl to gather. Those going to the Gathering filed in behind her and Wildblaze. She turned, her gaze flitting over each and every cat. Strikepaw pressed himself into Slashpaw's fur, trembling with excitement. His brother smiled and licked the top of his head.

"Let's go." Duskstar snarled before darting out of camp, everyone on her heels. Strikepaw noticed how dark it was under the pines, even with the full moon. He felt Dovesoar come up next to him, and Sparrowcall flanked Slashpaw. He heard her murmuring to Tangleclaw.

"…a huge vicious group. She obviously wants to look tough tonight to scare ThunderClan."

He didn't hear Tangleclaw's reply but a rock of dread suddenly dropped into his stomach. Was this group meant to intimidate? Did Duskstar wan to fight at a Gathering?

Don't be foolish; she wants to make us look strong.

Would ThunderClan fight at a Gathering?

They aren't rouges. There will be no battle tonight.

I hope.

They easily crossed RiverClan territory and reached the large branch that connected the land to the island. Dovesoar pressed close to his tail to make sure he didn't fall. He managed to make it to the island dry, poor Slashpaw had to be caught by Sparrowcall and drenched his tail and hind legs.

Strikepaw waited and they entered the clearing. Strikepaw felt his inner barriers go up and he placed a calm, cool, collected, look on his face. He wanted more than anything to jump into the lake. He hadn't had any time to swim since he started his apprenticeship!

"Did someone go for a swim?"

Both apprentices turned to see a white tom apprentice flanked by a gray tabby tom and a mottled brown she-cat.

Strikepaw felt his hackles rise as he recognized the scent of ThunderClan. He remembered the scars that never healed on his clanmates, Breezefang's body, Duskstar's desperate rage, and looked at Slashpaw's face, shocked into shame and submission for the first time in his life.

Strikepaw snarled, "At least he could climb out! You would have drowned with all that kittypet soft fur. We all known ThunderClan is just a bunch of soft kittypets."

The three apprentices looked shocked for a moment before curling their lips. Slashpaw looked shocked and Strikepaw felt shocked at himself. Then, Slashpaw stepped out, "Yeah, your probably full kittypet now. You even had a kittypet leader! Can you even hunt or do you go running to Twolegs for food?"

The white apprentice stepped forward and snarled, "I'm going to shred you both."

Strikepaw lunged forward landing right in front of him. "At least it would be the blood of a warrior."

The white apprentice howled and lashed out at Strikepaw, claws glinting in the dim moonlight.

"Blizzardpaw!"

The apprentice froze and turned and Strikepaw followed his gaze.

Coming towards them was a huge white tom with amber eyes alight with anger.

"This is a Gathering!" the cat spat when he came near. "What has gotten into you?" The cat turned to Strikepaw, "And you?"

Suddenly Strikepaw felt a vicious tug on his scruff. He was yanked back to face the ice blue eyes of Duskstar.

"What is going on?" she snarled, facing him with a glare.

"It wasn't his fault!" Slashpaw cried but Sparrowcall yanked him back.

"Well?" Duskstar spat.

"He…He was taunting Sl…Slashpaw so I jumped in to…to defend him."

Duskstar twisted to face the ThunderClan cats, regaining her regal composure.

"I'm very sorry this happened, Snowstar. Shall we put this behind us and move on? No clouds have covered the moon."

The huge white tom's eyes glinted as he stared at Duskstar. He twisted to give one last hiss to Blizzardpaw before walking forward.

"Indeed."

Both leaders dipped their head and turned towards the tree. Before she leapt, Duskstar looked down at Strikepaw.

"I expect you in my den when we return to camp."

Strikepaw filled with dread as he hung his head. Slashpaw came forward and pressed next to him.

"Thanks for defending me, sorry you got in trouble."

Strikepaw simply nodded, not hearing a word for the rest of the Gathering.

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They returned to camp in a grim mood, Dovesoar was steamed. She had told him that, in addition to Duskstar's punishment, he would be cleaning dens for the next quarter moon. Slashpaw demanded he take that punishment as well.

Sparrowcall agreed, mad that he didn't stop the fight.

Strikepaw turned towards the leaders den when Tabbypaw came up, "How did it go?"

"There was a fight, I have to go to Duskstar's den now."

She looked worried but didn't press the issue, "Good luck."

He made it to the coiling roots when Wildblaze stopped him.

He looked angry, but tired, "Tell the truth. Duskstar is very fair, I know you haven't had much interaction with her, but she is very fair."

Suddenly, he bent down and ran his tongue across Strikepaw's head. "You won't be the first 'paw in trouble, nor the last."

Strikepaw felt a little shocked as Wildblaze walked away, but then turned towards to the lichen.

"Strikepaw?"

"Here."

"Come in."

Strikepaw entered the dark tree. The only thing he could see was Duskstar's eyes and the faint tint of copper on her pelt. She looked at him with the same disinterest.

"So, what happened tonight?"

"Blizzardpaw asked Slashpaw if he took a swim since he fell in the water. So I said Blizzardpaw couldn't climb out if he tried because of his kittypet fur. He got mad and unsheathed his claws. Then Slashpaw said how they were full kittypet and once had a full kittypet leader and insulted their hunting skills. Then Blizzardpaw said he was going to shred us and I said at least it would be warrior blood. Then he lunged and swiped and I dodged."

Duskstar sat quietly for a heartbeat before opening her jaws, "It is not a good idea to taunt our enemies at Gatherings. You forced me to stoop to Snowstar's level when we are planning a battle. Although, I heard many cats from all clans wondering how well Snowstar truly disciplines his son, and yes, Blizzardpaw is his son. This made us look good, since at the first sign of trouble you fell. This gives us respect. Yet, taunting at a Gathering will not go unnoticed. I heard Dovesoar is keeping you in camp for a quarter moon?"

"You heard?"

She chuckled. "I hear everything that goes on in this camp, young one. That seems sufficient enough. You may go, you must be tired."

Strikepaw nodded and stood, "Thank you."

He was about to push through the lichen when he heard Duskstar call out again.

"Strikepaw?"

"Yes?"

"I never discourage standing up for our clanmates and giving those ThunderClan fleabags what's for okay?"

"Okay!"

…

Was that pride lighting her gaze?

Wow, our first true look at Duskstar! I tried to show as much of her personality as I could in this scene, as she is one of my favorite OCs. What did you all think? Please leave a review, and questions are always welcome! I try to respond to PMs as fast as I can, so if you are lost on any part of the story, just shoot me a PM or review.

I put a hint to his parentage in here somewhere so can you find it? ;)

(Hint: It has nothing to do with the fight or aftermath of the fight, look at his personality and actions)

QOTC: Do you think Duskstar was truly mad about the fight?