If you are explaining, you are losing. - J. C. Watts

Questions & Answers

Things you shouldn't do but probably would do if I didn't put this:

1) Don't guess in the reviews about the answer. I think you know why.

2) Don't PM your guess. Seriously, it will annoy me and the only answer you'll get is 'Maybe, maybe not'.

Q: Will Hawkpaw ever get a mate?

A: She will definitely have a mate, I can assure you that. I don't know if that'll break the space-time continuum but it'll work. The lucky tom's name was mentioned in this chapter!

Q: Who is Owlpaw's future mate? There isn't any golden tom in the Clan.

A: Did I ever say her mate was Clanborn? NO.

Q: What's your favorite character?

A: Owlpaw (duh). I don't like Owlflight at all but I love young Owlpaw. After her is Swiftfoot.

Q: You often say you want to kill Hawkpaw. Why?

A: Because why not? I haven't killed a main character in any of my stories, but I need a story so I can't kill her! *bangs her head on the desk* Ow.

Q: Will there be a sequel?

A: Probably not. I'm already working on a new story about a New Clan (which is the title; I have such little creativity) who have powers of water-breathing and they lose their home and end up in the lake. The other Clans are like: ''THIS IS OUR HOME! GET OUT!'' And a fight happens and blah, blah, blah. Besides, what could I possibly write about in the sequel? Hawkpaw's kits will show up 'till they're warriors (at least).

Q: Not even a special edition?

A: I might do a one-shot about Hawkpaw if she hadn't gone to the past/had gone to the future. I'll do it when the story ends though.

Hawkpaw growled as she watched Darkpaw fighting Ravenpaw. They were both skilled fighters, but Swiftfoot hadn't allowed Hawkpaw to participate. ''You need to pick up advice,'' he had said. ''Watch the apprentices fight, you'll learn something. But I promise you'll be caring for the elders if you practice.''

The golden apprentice hated this. Having to watch all the apprentices but she couldn't. She could almost bet that it was because ShadowClan didn't trust her, as she was 'a rogue'. But she, she was a real DarkClan apprentice. ShadowClan didn't know the dark-attack, or the Flower Sneak. They had to wait-and-see!

''Hi, Hawkpaw,'' the familiar voice she had known since she opened her eyes greeted happily. Of course, it was the one and only, Owlpaw. ''What're you doing here? I thought Stormpaw had told me that you were going to be fighting.''

''Well then,'' Hawkpaw meowed coolly. ''He must have been wrong.'' She admitted to herself that she had lied to Stormpaw in order to get some peace while she just watched the rest of the apprentices train. She didn't want company, she didn't want more teasing, she just wanted a little bit of peace.

Owlpaw blinked. ''You really think I'm gonna believe you that Stormpaw was wrong?'' she purred. ''I know how much you hate him. You'll never tell something to him without a lie here and there. Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.'' She winked.

Hawkpaw sighed in defeat. ''I guess so,'' she murmured. ''How did you know, though?''

''I am the true detector of lies, the one and only: Owlpaw!'' she yowled, giving a dramatic performance to Hawkpaw, who just rolled her eyes in response. This 'young Owlflight' was more annoying than Owlflight. Though she did like that Owlpaw wasn't evil. And yes, Hawkpaw was already used to saying Owlpaw rather than 'young Owlflight' or things like that.

''But there must've been other lie detectors already in the past… or maybe the future,'' she meowed. Giving out a piece of the future wouldn't hurt, would it? ''What would you think if Ravenclaw was a cat detective?''

Owlpaw gave an excited squeal. ''That just can't be true!'' she yowled. ''He's just so… weird and dark. I'd say he could never have an exciting life. Then again, it seems Bluedapple is getting mushy with him.'' She stuck out her tongue, but then looked confusedly at Hawkpaw. ''What's a detective again?''

Hawkpaw pictured Redfern telling her, but she couldn't say Owlpaw's mentor told Hawkpaw about it. ''A rogue from where I lived before explained it to me,'' she meowed. ''A detective is a cat who investigates about crimes. Like, if there has been a murder, a detective is sent to track down the murderer with help of the clues.''

''Clues?''

''Yup. The rogue, called Red,'' Hawkpaw made an obvious reference to Redfern, ''told me that clues were always present in the crime scene. As if, there couldn't be a murder without clues left behind. Like pawprints, tufts of fur or even the smallest detail like a scratch on a tree. With things like the scratch, you had to see how long each cat's claws and things like that were.''

Owlpaw put on a thoughtful face. ''Wow,'' she meowed finally after a few moments of silence. ''I guess it sounds pretty cool. I want to be one! When a battle came and one of ShadowClan's cats died, I'd find out who did it. How could you find about a crime if the cat who did it was in the other Clan?''

Hawkpaw had her mind on other things. She can't become a detective, that's Ravenclaw's job to do. He has to find out about the murder of Dawnleap! Owlpaw can't interfere with that; it's not her destiny!

''Hawkpaw? About my question?'' Owlpaw asked, obviously annoyed.

''Oh yeah,'' Hawkpaw meowed, not really paying much attention to her own answer. ''You just couldn't do anything. A detective's job was to find the murderer. I guess a battle like that wouldn't be a murder, don't you think so? And you knew it was someone from the other Clan.''

Owlpaw looked downcast. ''I guess so,'' she murmured. ''I say it's pretty cool. But I want to be the best warrior I can be; not a detective cat. Maybe there can be a detective cat in the Clan; why did you say it could be Ravenclaw?''

Hawkpaw brightened from this answer. Owlpaw's destiny wouldn't merge with a detective's! She took more focus on her answer. ''Just a thought.'' Owlpaw still looked confused but Hawkpaw hoped her answer sounded convincing enough.

''Maybe I could be a secondary detective, though,'' she meowed, stretching. ''I'd find murderers when there were no detectives. At least I'd been respected by the Clan with that.'' She unsheathed her claws and dug them into the ground.

''No!'' Hawkpaw yowled, slashing her foreleg. She flinched when Owlpaw began crying, tears streaming down by her face. ''Oh, Owlpaw… it's not my fault. I-I wasn't thinking. Please, I-I'm sorry about it. I won't do it again.''

Owlpaw stared at Hawkpaw blankly. ''Stay away from ME!'' she yowled, running back to camp. Ravenpaw, Darkpaw and the mentors had stopped to stare at Hawkpaw, who felt guilt and embarrassment flush through her pelt.

What have I gotten myself into? She'll tell Snowstar…

I bet Hawkpaw shall now face the wrath of Snowstar... *cackles* Wait, I'm the author? *facepalms* Who's up for her mercy? *reluctantly rises arm*

Reply to Reviews:

Stream that Flows Around Rock - Effective ways of mentoring... *puts a thinking face* That really wasn't the point, the point was for it to appear weird... But, I believe Crowtalon is in the allegiances? If he hasn't appeared, then I'll put him right now (or tomorrow, 'cause it's 11:42 pm).

Anova00 - I like that description. Short, but descriptive. *feels like everyone is staring at me*

lucky333123 - I think she's already impressed him with the tree climbing thing. *shrugs* I'm not sure.

Ravenwing of Thunderclan - I've already planned someone else...

Ravenwing of Thunderclan - Okay. Don't worry if I don't put him in the allegiances right away. This update is being held at 11:42 pm, so...

Bobbie1776 - Harsh? I wanted his methods to seem weird D: But I do admit they are harsh.

QOTD:

Owl and Hawk? Thoughts?