AN. Chapter Six is here! Thanks for all positive reviews once again and enjoy! :D

Oh, and there was a slight change to the alligiances in case you want to take a look. I've switched Stormpaw to HiddenClan and you'll see why in this chapter.

Chapter Six

Daybreak dawned on the HiddenClan camp and Shadestar already had warriors assembled around camp ready to leave at once for WhisperClan territory. Shadestar leaped up onto Highbranch to address his Clan.

"We soon leave for WhisperClan. However we won't leave camp unguarded in case those rouges attack. Coming with me to WhisperClan will be Dawnglow, Cloverwing, Snowfrost, Silverstripe, Sunpaw, Stormpaw, Dovepaw and Shadowpaw, that should leave you with enough warriors Phoenixfeather." Shadestar announced.

Shadowpaw rose to her paws as she heard her name called. She hoped WhisperClan would be willing to help their rival Clan. It was so rare that one of the clans ever went to meet the other unless during a full moon when they meet at the Great Falls.

Shadestar however, wasn't finished, "Also, during our absence all kits are forbidden from straying away from the nursery unless in evacuation. All cats will be given traveling herbs from Stareyes so they won't have to hunt for awhile. I want to try to keep all warriors and apprentices at camp. When we reach WhisperClan and they approve, we shall send Cloverwing to inform the camp and we'll try to get everyone moved to WhisperClan territory. But for now, we leave! All cats coming meet me by the entrance!"

Shadowpaw followed her denmates to the camp entrance and stood next to Sunpaw. "Those rouges better watch it now! They strike us we strike back harder!" He was saying. Shadowpaw shook her head, "Sunpaw, we're going to be asking WhisperClan for help to defend ourselves. I don't think we're going to try to attack them,"

Sunpaw shrugged, "Either way, lets just hope WhisperClan is actually willing to help," Shadowpaw nodded in agreement. Dovepaw spoke up, "What do we do if WhisperClan refuses?" Sunpaw snarled, "Then we claw out their fur ourselves!"

Shadestar flicked his tail to signal the party that it was time to leave. Shadowpaw quickly finished off her traveling herb and hurried to join the others. Shadestar padded quickly through the forest wasting no time. Shadowpaw padded beside Sunpaw a little bit ahead of Stormpaw and Dovepaw who padded side by side. She could feel bushes and leaves rub against her side and hear them rustle together as they did. Their quick pace on the earth's ground echoed off the tall trees surrounding them.

Shadowpaw could soon smell the river just before she heard it. She perked her ears as the sound of the flowing water grew. They were close to WhisperClan territory. Shadestar halted by the river. He turned to the party of cats, "We will have to swim across, and Log Bridge is upriver, too close to Cloudtrees to cross. The water may look calm but it can still carry you away. So I warn you all to be careful. We swim together for support."

Shadestar began to step into the river cautiously, his warriors followed close behind. Shadowpaw stepped in at the same time with Sunpaw with Dovepaw following close behind. Stormpaw was a little bit ahead of them already swimming towards the other side. "You guys doing alright back there?" He called from over his shoulder. Dovepaw answered, "Well I don't know, I'm a hunter not a swimmer!"

Stormpaw fell back with Dovepaw to help her.

Shadowpaw and Sunpaw finally reached the shore and heaved their heavy damp pelts out of the water and they began to lick themselves clean while waiting for the rest. Dawnglow and Cloverwing were already to shore doing the same and Snowfrost and Silverstripe were just getting out.

Then there was a sudden yowl from the water. Shadowpaw spun around to see her friend Dovepaw being hit by a sudden strong current and had gone under. Shadowpaw wanted to jump in after her but Stormpaw was already on it. He dived underwater and he quickly grabbed Dovepaw by the scruff and tried to pull her up. Shadowpaw saw his head surface above water with Dovepaw's scruff in his jaws. He tried to pull the heavily wet she-cat to safety. Cloverwing and Dawnglow looked as though they were ready to spring in and help in case Stormpaw couldn't help Dovepaw.

Luckily Stormpaw was able to reach shore and he heaved Dovepaw to the shore. The white she-cat coughed up water and Cloverwing rushed over to see if her apprentice was alright. After Dovepaw got all the water out of her system she glanced up at the white tail tipped and feet tom with bluish grey who had saved her. "T-thank you Stormpaw," she chocked out. Stormpaw grinned, "No problem at all! Thank StarClan you survived."

Shadestar intervened, "Not to sound uncaring, but we must continue. Are you traveling fit Dovepaw?" Dovepaw nodded. Shadestar returned the nod, "Good, good. Now we must hurry."

Stormpaw helped Dovepaw to her paws and continued to follow Shadestar. Then Shadestar hesitated, was her really going to go ask there rival for help? But it was for the sake of the Clan, so he proceeded.

As they progressed through WhisperClan territory, Shadowpaw began to feel uneasy; they rarely ventured into enemy territory and the unfamiliar surroundings caused Shadowpaw to feel uncomfortable.

Silverstripe spoke up, "Shadestar, do you even know where WhisperClan camp is?"

Shadestar snorted, "Just follow where their scent's the strongest. That'll lead us to their camp."

Shadowpaw lifted her head to sniff the air; WhisperClan camp was close. They were almost to the camp entrance when a voice stopped them; "How dare you intruders enter our territory!"

Shadowpaw lifted her head and gazed at the black WhisperClan deputy, Shadowsoul standing on a high hill leading towards the hollow for WhisperClan camp. He had a white chest and a darker black stripe going down his back. Shadestar spoke up, "We have not come to fight today Shadowsoul, we need to speak with Dawnstar,"

Shadowsoul snorted, "Like I'll take that! Get off our territory now!"

"No, Shadowsoul,"

Shadowsoul turned around to see his pale grey leader gazing at her deputy with blue eyes. "We must listen to what they have to say Shadowsoul,"

Shadowsoul protested, "It's obviously a trap! Why they come to us? We should drive them out!"

Dawnstar leaned in and whispered into Shadowsoul's ear, "They may have our same problem, we must listen,"

Shadowsoul growled, "I refuse! HiddenClan cannot be trusted! Ever! We can take care of our problems on our own!"

Dawnstar glared at him. "We listen, no you either stay and listen as well or you head back to camp,"

Reluctantly, Shadowsoul backed off and allowed Dawnstar to take charge. "Why have you come to our territory for Shadestar?"

Shadestar took a deep breath, ready to give up his pride, "Rouges have invaded our territory and took our part of Cloudtrees and we are heavily outnumbered. They'll destroy us if we don't seek help," he lowered his head a little, slightly ashamed for asking.

Dawnstar's ears twitched, then replied, "Shadestar, WhisperClan too, has been having these issues with these rouges." Then she dipped her head sadly, "Yesterday a hunting party of ours was attacked by these rouges at Cloudtrees; two of our warriors and an apprentice were forced to submit to them. The other two fought and returned to us in a bloody mess and told us what happened," she then looked up, "Come with me to our camp; we obviously have to discuss this."

Shadestar nodded, relived that HiddenClan wasn't the only clan with this issue and that they were going to get help. He lead his party of cats up the hill and into WhisperClan camp. A golden tabby and flame colored she-cat came up to them curiously.

The golden tabby asked, "Dawnstar, why are HiddenClan warriors here?"

Dawnstar answered, "They too are dealing with rouges and we figured it is best to deal with this together. Nettlesting, can you and Emberpath make our guest feel comfortable while Shadestar and I discuss the rouges?"

The two cats nodded. Then Dawnstar climbed a tall mound above her den at the back of camp. She then called out, "Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey, gather beneath Tallmound for a Clan meeting."

The Clan gathered as they were called to do so, all curious of the HiddenClan visitors. Dawnstar announced, "HiddenClan has too been dealing with the rouge issues, therefore both Shadestar and I must swallow our pride and ally together against this threat. So try your best to get along with our former enemy,"

Dawnstar climbed down and he and Shadestar went into her den to discuss. Most of the warriors looked uncertain and not wanting to work with HiddenClan. However one reddish brown she-cat scurried over to the newcomers with her almost golden paws.

She skidded to a halt in front of Shadowpaw, "Hi! I'm Firepaw! So you're a HiddenClan apprentice right? Shadowpaw was it? I see you at gatherings!"

Shadowpaw backed away from the excited apprentice a bit; a little uncomfortable with the stranger apprentice's sudden outburst. Firepaw frowned, "What's wrong? Something I said?"

"Nothing like that, you're just crowding her with a sudden introduction like that," answered Sunpaw. Firepaw twitched her ears, "Oh, so you're shy? Quite? Well then you'll get along great with my sister Swanpaw! Come on, wanna meet her?"

Sunpaw nudged Shadowpaw, "Let's go Shadowpaw, we minus well get to know fellow apprentices we'll be fighting with,"

Firepaw shook her head, "Oh, no, Swanpaw is a medicine cat apprentice,"

Sunpaw shrugged, "Okay, we minus well get to know fellow apprentices who'll be healing us,"

Firepaw grinned, "Great! Come on!"

Shadowpaw followed solemnly behind Sunpaw, Dovepaw and Stormpaw were talking with a silver she-cat apprentice. Cloverwind and Dawnglow talked to Emberpath and Nettlesting while Silverstripe went over to talk to WhisperClan toms and Snowfrost just kept to herself in an empty area of the camp. Firepaw walked up to the medicine cat's den and called, "Hey Swanpaw! Come meet a couple of HiddenClan apprentices! One of them seems to be like you!"

Padding slowly out of the den was a white she-cat with light grey paws and bright golden eyes. She kept her head level with her body as she said, "Uh, hello. I'm Swanpaw,"

"This is Sunpaw and Shadowpaw!" Firepaw introduced.

"Hi, looks like you're going to heal our wounds huh?" Said Sunpaw.

Swanpaw nodded, "Yeah," she replied quietly.

"Um, hi, nice to meet you," said Shadowpaw.

Swanpaw was able to pull off a smile, "Hi,"

Out of the den came a pale grey tabby she-cat with blue eyes. She said, "I see you apprentices decided to get to know each other. I certainly hope we'll be able to overcome these rouges. It's a good thing Swanpaw has a natural talent for healing,"

Swanpaw blushed, "Thank you Whispersong,"

Whispersong shook her head, "Nah, no thanking anyone until we pull through this. Now I'll go talk to some of these HiddenClan warriors you brought with you all,"

The WhisperClan medicine cat stalked away and went over to talk to Snowfrost who was still by herself and didn't seem to really be interesting in the company approaching her.

Sunpaw and Firepaw began to enthusiastically talk about apprenticeship and Shadowpaw and Swanpaw headed into the medicine cats den. Neither one of them seemed interested in starting a conversation and Swanpaw decided to start sorting herbs. Deciding to attempt to talk, Shadowpaw said, "So, how's it like to be training for a medicine cat?"

Swanpaw shrugged, "Its okay,"

"Well Whispersong said you had natural talent for it,"

Swanpaw sighed, "Yeah, but I'm only here because our two clans like to fight each other all the time,"

Shadowpaw frowned, "That's just how Clans work, plus you and I are here together now to support each other against rouges, not a Clan,"

"Yeah, but once we rid of them, things are going to go back to the way they were. I didn't want to be part of the fighting so I became a medicine cat instead. But still… I just think that there must be more out there than just the Clans,"

Shadowpaw gave a small shrug, "'Course there is, but none of it is as great as where we are now. We live in this grand forest full of life and beauty, why need more?"

"But you've never been beyond the Clans so how would you know?" Swanpaw questioned.

Shadowpaw held her tongue, true she never did venture beyond the Clan territories but it wasn't something that really bothered her. She was fine with where she lived.

Then Shadowpaw decided to change the subject, "Well, lets head out. Maybe Shadestar and Dawnstar are done talking."

Swanpaw gave her a small nod and followed Shadowpaw out of the den where Firepaw and Sunpaw still talked. Shadowpaw looked around and saw that many of the WhisperClan warriors were very displeased with the company of HiddenClan. Their deputy, Shadowsoul, glared at them with pure hate. But there was a strange glint in his eye that said something else that Shadowpaw couldn't read.

Out of the leader's den came Dawnstar followed by Shadestar. Seeing this, the Clan turned their attention towards the two leaders as Dawnstar climbed up Tallmound. She called out, "Shadestar and I have reached a decision! We've both decided that this time we shall put aside our past and join together! HiddenClan is moving in with WhisperClan so we can all stay together. While HiddenClan moves their Clan over here, we will be preparing for them by expanding our dens and trying our best to catch as much prey as we can." Before she climbed down, she added, "Oh yes, and be sure to get along as nicely as you can with our new allies. Also I would like Phoenixwing and Nettlesting to accompany their messenger. That is all,"

Muttering could be heard rippling through the crowd of cats. Shadestar signaled Cloverwing. She nodded and with Phoenixwing and Nettlesing, raced out of camp to deliver the message.

Shadowpaw glanced over to Swanpaw, "Well," she said, "Looks like you and I are going to be together for awhile,"

AN. Is it just me or are my chapters getting longer? Well anyway I'm thinking of having Shadowpaw go with Sunpaw and Stormpaw go with Dovepaw. That's what I'm thinking at the moment.......... Review!