Chapter 21 is here! The next chapter after the, hmm, how should I say it? Almost finale, chapter. Not the grand finale, but now I have added another chapter to the overall story. Now there are 30 planned chapters for this story, then the sequel! I already have the summary for the sequel but it would reveal WAY too much since the climax of this story has not happened yet.

Also the challenge is now complete. I must say...nobody got 100% on this quiz. That's alright, though, because if you missed 1-2 answers, then you get to create a cat that will be used in the sequel. If you missed 3-4 then you get an idea, and if you missed 5 or more then you get a place. Now, be aware I will regulate these. If it's an idea that completely throws the plot off balance then no, I will not use that. An example would be something like Dapplepaw dies.

So, here are the answers:
Q. 1: "I think it's a badger. I honestly thought they were bigger." (Almost all got this write)
Q.2: Yes, Rainpaw supported DapplexAsh at first. (Only one person got this correct)
Q.3: Rainpaw. (About half got this right)
Q.4: Foxstep believed that Dapplepaw was Sweetpaw reborn, the cat he loved. (Everyone I believe got this correct)
Q.5: It was Rosepaw, of course. (Once again, I think this was a question that everyone knew)
Q.6: Sweetpaw is crushed when a tree falls. (Most knew this)
Q.7: Dapplepaw's memory is jumbled/gone. (I think everybody got this one)
Q.8: Spruce wanted to learn to fight/he is in love with her. (Think most answers were right)
Q.9: Rosepaw is afraid of water. (Nobody got this right. It was in one of the facts for a chapter. Everyone said isolation, though she isn't afraid of that, just doesn't like it)
Q.10: Any answer was correct!

Fact: All of the three sisters (Dapplepaw, Creampaw, and Rainpaw) are very small cats. They are far smaller than most cats, and are often described as petite.

It was the first day since Foxstep got sick that Creampaw noticed the world around her. She had been so focused on Foxstep. She feared that if she left his side that he would pass on and she wouldn't be there beside him. Every cat was okay with her skipping duties, perhaps they took it as some silly romantic gesture.

Creampaw was forced away from her position by Foxstep's side when she heard. Rainpaw had passed the news on to her. It was shocking, jaw-dropping even. But it was apparently the truth. And it sucked.

Ashpaw had severed all ties he had with Dapplepaw.

Creampaw dropped a plump sparrow by Foxstep's side. The warrior glanced up at her, eyes sparkling. "Is this supposed to be for me?" he purred, his voice no longer hoarse. He got to his paws and sniffed the dead bird. "I have already eaten today."

"Yeah, I know, but Rushwater says you need to keep your strength up," Creampaw encouraged, pushing the sparrow toward him. "Eat it. The sooner you get better the sooner you can go back to warrior duties."

Foxstep pushed the sparrow back at her. "I'm fine. I already started going on patrols again. And hunting. You seem to be the only cat still worrying about me." His gaze became soft and sympathetic. "I know you stopped all your duties for me. Your life, well, you need to live it. I am fine now, and I want you to resume your training."

Creampaw ducked her head. "Alright. Silverwhisker wants me to battle train with Dustpaw today. The battle really traumatized some cats. Daisynose is really grief-stricken."

Foxstep turned away, ears flicking. "Yeah. I know. I wish I could've fought. I wanted to fight. Maybe then that kittypet wouldn't have murdered Pinepaw." The ginger tom shuffled his paws and stared at his feet, guilt consuming his expression.

"I doubt it," Creampaw comforted, brushing her tail next to his. She twined it with Foxstep's and leaned on his shoulder. "He sacrificed himself for Dapplepaw. It was his choice, and he died a noble and remembered cat."

"I suppose," Foxstep sighed, getting to his paws. "A patrol is waiting." He gave her a brief lick on the head before padding off to join a group of gathering warriors. They warmly greeted Foxstep as he arrived.

Creampaw got up reluctantly. Dapplepaw was lurking at the edge of camp, eyes dull. Creampaw trotted up to her sister, glancing down at her. "Are you okay?" she questioned, guessing the answer. Ever since Pinepaw gave up his life she had been very upset. Now that she and Ashpaw would meet tonight she was even more puzzled.

"I don't know. I'm confused, Creampaw. What does he want? Ashpaw, I mean. Did he change his mind? Does he want to try to chase me away emotionally? I can't think of an answer." Dapplepaw turned to face Creampaw, her green eyes wide with concern. "I don't know if I can handle going and then just...leaving him. Again."

Creampaw got ready to sit down next to her when her sister sprang to her paws. The fluffy she-cat started to pad off, but glanced over her shoulder and meowed, "I have something to do."

"Too slow!" Ivytail chided Dustpaw, who lay on the ground catching his breath. The small tom stood up tall, but was clearly embarrassed. "This is how cats, young cats, get killed, just like your brother!"

Dustpaw's eyes grew very wide at her words. He stumbled back, crouching low as they sunk in. Creampaw almost gasped, glancing at the new mentor, who also seemed surprised that she had uttered those words.

"No, I'm sorry," Ivytail meowed, crouching down to his level. "It...it slipped out. I didn't mean to offend you." The silver furred warrior swished her tail nervously.

Dustpaw's expression switched from hurt to relaxed in a matter of moments. "No, you're right. Pinepaw is dead because he was foolish. I won't be that way." He turned to face Creampaw and gave her a nod. "I want to try again."

Creampaw hesitantly got into the battle position. "Alright, then." She waited for his move like she had been ordered. Dustpaw launched himself at her, springing to the left. Creampaw moved to the left to block his attack, but he swerved to the right, attempting to ram into her side and send her tumbling. Creampaw was just swift enough to leap out of the way, his paws scraping her fur.

"Mouse-dung!" Dustpaw spat, ears flicking with irritation. "And you aren't even the fast or agile sister!"

Creampaw tilted her head to the side. He was referring to Dapplepaw and Rainpaw. Rainpaw was very fast and was best at dodging, while Dapplepaw was very agile and could jump extreme heights and could also easily dodge. Creampaw was the strongest of them all, but also the slowest.

"Well, this is still your first moon of training," Creampaw meowed sympathetically. "I mean, no cat expects you to be able to fight a cat that is almost a warrior with moons more experience." She tried her best to sound sisterly, but failed. She could never talk to him like she talked to Dapplepaw and Rainpaw, yet somehow she felt like she owed it to him to talk to him that way.

Dustpaw snorted and turned away, his tail dragging in the dirt. "No cat thinks we should be able to fight. I get it. Brackenstar thought we could fight, though. Pinepaw tried, and now he's dead. I want to prove that I can fight."

"No cat expects you to beat me," Creampaw tried again, almost getting annoyed at his stubborn attitude. "Maybe in another moon or so-"

"I don't want to be able to fight you in another moon!" Dustpaw snapped and his tail began to lash rapidly. His words were the last before a long silence. He faced them again, confident because he had gotten away with snapping at a cat that was superior to him.

Ivytail stepped forward. "Dustpaw, you will be cleaning the elder's den for a quarter moon since you just disrespected a warrior and obviously did not apologize." The silver she-cat's face was hard as she stared at the new apprentice.

"Not fair!" Dustpaw protested, shaking his head. "That is so not fair! She isn't a warrior! Not yet! And how much longer does she have? Moons, I'm sure. She is almost the same age as I am!" The smaller cat lashed his tail harder.

Ivytail sighed, shaking her head. "Her warrior assessment is in a few days, Dustpaw. And, as I recall, you still have more than five moons left before yours. So, by my judgement, I believe that Creampaw is a tad older and more superior to you."

Dustpaw shrank back, but Creampaw barely noticed him. "My assessment is that soon?" she meowed excitedly, the words sounding like honey to her ears. "In a few days? For real?"

Ivytail nodded, amused by her reaction. "Yes. No cat should've told you, but I had to. Let's get back to camp."

"We're just going out," Dapplepaw repeated for the fourth time. "Why in the name of StarClan is this so important! It's not like I haven't left this camp before! For StarClan's sake!"

Creampaw let out a sigh of frustration. "It's not that and you know it! It's the fact that you're leaving camp with Brackenstar, who happens to be the clan leader, and Nettlepelt, the deputy. That just screams importance."

"I want to talk with them about my warrior name," Dapplepaw meowed in response, swishing her fluffy tail over the rocks. Her green eyes were focused on the small pebbles that lay scattered around, which was a key indicator that she was lying.

Rainpaw swiped the pebbles off the rock. "Dapplepaw! We don't get to choose our warrior names! It's a surprise! Don't you want to be surprised?" The grey she-cat rolled her eyes and flopped on to her side, letting the sunlight douse her fur.

Dapplepaw shuffled her feet and met their stares evenly. "Fine. I just want to make sure my future, the thing that I am going to live for the rest of my life, doesn't suck! Plus, I have a request for names that you two deserve to get."

Creampaw leaned closer, eyes widening. Changing our names? Not just hers, but ours? Ugh, great! She's going to call me Creamfluff or something else stupid! "Why? Maybe you can have influence on your name, but ours? What has gotten into you?"

"I want you names to mean something," Dapplepaw answered, getting to her paw. "I need to go. Goodbye." She leapt from the boulder and headed over to where Brackenstar and Nettlepelt were waiting. Nettlepelt's gaze was full of approval, but Brackenstar seemed skeptical.

Creampaw watched her sister disappear out of camp. Dapplepaw had seemed jittery, nervous even. "Is there something wrong with her," she asked Rainpaw, who was also staring at the spot Dapplepaw had vanished. She rolled on to her side, then shrugged. "Maybe. Isn't there always something going on? I know she was planning on ending things with Blackpelt."

"Oh, Great StarClan!" Creampaw exclaimed, a sudden thought jolting into her mind. "The meeting with Ashpaw! She never told me how that went. Did he reconcile with her? Realize his mistake?"

"No. He just wanted to explain his decision a little more. Personally, if he can't see how great Dapplepaw is then he doesn't deserve any time with her," Rainpaw retorted, rolling her eyes. "Hey, by the way, how's Foxstep holding up?"

"Fine. I'm fine," a voice meowed from behind them. Creampaw perked up as the ginger warrior laid down beside her. "Every cat asks that. But I am doing okay. I just wish I could do my normal duties. I feel useless."

"You are not useless," Creampaw comforted him for the second time, giving his ear a lick. She blinked and glanced at his light green eyes, almost mesmerized by them. He stared back at her with everything she ever wanted from him. Love. Devotion. Affection.

"Great StarClan, I think I am going to puke," Rainpaw's voice broke their trance. "Could you maybe hold off on the 'endless love' stuff until I am not around? I think the whole clan wants to cover their eyes!" Her sister gave her a mock annoyed look, making Creampaw giggle.

"Sorry, cannot do that," Foxstep replied, nudging Creampaw's cheek. "I want to ask her something, anyway, so if you must walk away, then do so." Foxstep got to his paws, and so did Creampaw. She blinked up at him, curious. He almost seemed nervous, but for what? "Okay, Creampaw, I must admit that I am slightly intimidated by this, but I'll get on with it. Creampaw...will you be my mate?"

The words shocked Creampaw, causing her to freeze for a split moment. She stood there, unmoving, while Foxstep seemed a hint puzzled by her reaction. "Y-yes! Yes, of course!" she finally breathed out, the reality of it setting in. He asked me that? Really?

Foxstep relaxed from relief. "Oh, good," he meowed, sounding more calm. "I never asked any cat that, not even Sweetpaw." He moved closer so their sides were pressed against each other. "Though, I can't lie, I was going to ask your sister..."

Creampaw jumped back, amusement tingling through her. "Nuh-uh! You weren't! You barely knew her!" she laughed, rolling her eyes.

"I guess I was just so taken by her appearance," Foxstep teased, getting to his paws. "Dapplepaw is the queen around this clan, and every tom is taken by her looks."

"You were not!" Creampaw fought back, stepping closer to him. "If it helps, she did her best to stay away from you! So there!" She closed the gap between them and touched her nose to his. "Thank StarClan that obsession was over quickly."

Foxstep gave her a light shove. They faced the entrance as Rainpaw came closer to them. "Sorry to break this ever so romantic moment, but where's Dapplepaw?"

"What do you mean?" Creampaw asked, perking up. "She's with Nettlepelt and Brackenstar. You saw her leave." She faced her sister, tilting her head to the side to display her confusion.

"Yeah, I know, but...," Rainpaw's voice trailed off. She gestured with her tail to show the camp entrance, where both Brackenstar and Nettlepelt walked through. Nettlepelt seemed happy, though once again Brackenstar appeared disturbed. The deputy scanned the camp, spotting the two sisters. She trotted over toward them, Brackenstar at her side.

The two important cats hopped up on to the rocks. Brackenstar nodded at Foxstep. "Can you give us a minute?" he asked the recovering warrior. Foxstep dipped his head and bounded away, casting one last look at Creampaw.

"What's wrong?" Creampaw demanded, eyeing the two leaders. "Where's Dapplepaw? She went out with you, I saw it!"

Nettlepelt gave a nod of her head. "That's right, she did. What did she tell you she was doing?" The deputy sounded genuinely curious.

"Asking you two about our warrior names," Rainpaw answered, nervous. She shuffled her paws and cast a worried look at Creampaw, who shared the expression. The sister turned back to the deputy and her anxiety didn't seem to die down.

Brackenstar snorted, staring at his paws. "Your sister. She did ask that, yes. But more importantly, and you two clearly don't have a clue, is that she not with us anymore. Not anymore."

Creampaw silently gasped, her stomach lurching. She glanced frantically at Rainpaw and was about to speak when Nettlepelt cut her off. "Stop it, Brackenstar. I know you are not too happy about this, but I think it's for the best." She turned to the sisters and sighed. "Your sister joined SunClan."

Well, you know I want to know what you think! I love reading your reviews so much! 285 for the next chapter!

Next chapter: Ashpaw tries his best to adjust to the choice Dapplepaw has made. While he is excited, he can't help but feel that the decision is wrong and will have consequences, including Rosepaw's anger, Creampaw and Rainpaw's mourning, and the exclusion from the SunClan cats.

Question: Were you surprised at Dapplepaw's actions, and do you think she made the right choice?