AN. Thank you sooooooooooo much to those who reviewd! Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Nineteen

Star Forest loomed over the wondering cats beneath its many deep green leaves and thick and thin branches sticking out of each large rounded ancient tree trunk with its roots tucked in nicely in the rich, old soil that's kept the antique trees firmly in place for countless seasons and innumerable generations of leaders and Clans. Despite the protection the foliage offers from the sun, it still offers plenty of sunlight to shine though its branches and hit the forest green ground giving off a warm golden light that seemed mystical in itself. Butterflies infested the area; butterflies of all colors fluttering low and high, enjoying the sun's rays that were soften by the trees. Star Forest was full of life that roamed freely, for not many predators hunted in Star Forest. It was too sacred to be tampered with so animals were always seen on the ground or in a tree doing what they do as the birds tweeted happily overhead as their flocks flew from branch to branch, tree to tree doing what they please.

Firepaw gazed awestruck at the forest. She'd never been here before. Not often were trips made here by ordinary warriors and apprentices like herself. Here she was thinking her own territory was magnificent; apparently she had never seen magnificent yet until now.

Shadowsoul padded up from behind Firepaw, snorting, "Only kits are amused by forest scenery! Warriors look at battles ahead with claws unsheathed and senses alert!"

Firepaw dipped her tail low, did being a warrior really mean being so…stiff and serious?

Just then she scented more cats coming. She turned to see Shadowpaw, Sunpaw and Rosepaw bounding over to her with Leer, Eagle, Scowl, and Shriek in the lead. Also coming up were Dovepaw and Stormpaw with Vixen and Screech leading. Vixen and Scowl met up with Shadowsoul, "Why must this happen now?" demanded Vixen, "I had just gotten back from escorting prisoners when Cliffshadow decided to send me out to escort apprentices!"

Shadowsoul narrowed his eyes, "I would think you'd enjoy this,"

Before Vixen could respond, Scowl said, "Well lets head to Great Falls now, that's were it'll be held correct?"

Shadowsoul nodded and lead the group of cats towards Great Falls. Shadowpaw whispered to Firepaw, "What's been going on at your camp?"

"Nothing good; Shadowsoul confiscated Moonsong's kits after sending her on patrol. I don't know why." Firepaw whispered back.

"What? But on our first SorrowClan gathering they were announced to have just been born!" Shadowpaw whispered in surprise.

"What whispering am I hearing over here may I ask?"

Shadowpaw and Firepaw turned their heads to see Shriek glaring at them with her narrow icy blue eyes.

"N-nothing!" stammered Shadowpaw.

"Nothing? Seemed like something to me."

"Leave it be Shriek," said Leer.

Shriek turned towards her brother, "You and Screech go far too soft on them! They need strictness!"

Leer's emerald green eyes narrowed, challenging her icy blue eyes. "You need to control you temper sister," he added a smirk and stalked closer to Screech. Shriek scowled and raced after her brother in her own fury.

Shadowpaw sighed a sigh of relief. Thankful that Leer had saved her and Firepaw from having to explain themselves. Firepaw looked confused, "Why did he do that?" she asked.

"I think Leer's more with us than Bone," answered Shadowpaw. She then remembered Leer's warning the first time he had defended her and Eagle, 'beware of danger lurking within what you see'. Shadowpaw had pondered endlessly on what that meant since he had spoken the very words. Did Leer know something about Bone? Was Bone plotting more? Should she be more focused? But, why wouldn't Leer just tell her in secret if he really was helping them?

Her thoughts on the subject ceased as Eagle padded up to her. "You better stop with all your secretive talk; other rouges are getting suspicious. She whispered. Firepaw grinned, "Look who's talking secretive now!"

Eagle smiled at Firepaw lightheartedly, but then got serious again and was about to say something when they then heard the rushing of the river and of the Great Falls. The waterfall had come into view and Bone stood tall on the stone ledge that suck out of the Great Falls. Shadowsoul instructed the apprentices to gather and take a seat before Bone on one side of the pool.

Bone spoke out, "I hear that Shadowsoul wishes to commend warriors?"

Shadowsoul nodded, "I thought we'd try to test their loyalty,"

Bone nodded and spoke again, "Apprentices! Leaders of Mourn Camp, Dread Camp and Terror Camp have all decided that it's time to test your loyalty to the Clan and your ability as a warrior! Firepaw, you shall be first. Bring out the prisoners!"

Vixen and Scowl both disappeared at the command.

"You apprentices must be merciless, powerful, and loyal to me. Since you are the first group of apprentices to be tested for warriors, I'll say this now that you are not commended in the eyes of StarClan, but in the eyes of SorrowClan itself! StarClan is not apart of SorrowClan history, not anymore. We are now our own race and we shall have our own ancestors! You apprentices will be commended as warriors under my eyes, and soon to be warriors under the eyes of the new Clan of our ancestors, HorrorClan!"

Shadowpaw was horrified, you couldn't just make up a ancestor Clan could you? You can't just erase StarClan and replace it with HorrorClan. There's just no way…

Vixen and Scowl came out of the bushes with the prisoners. Six prisoners. Just as there were apprentices. Two elder, two kittypets, and two rouges just captured recently.

Bone called out, "Firepaw, you will be first to prove your loyalty. Bring forth Eveninglight!" Vixen grabbed the elder she-cat but the scruff and pushed her into the clearing on the opposite side of the pool. "Shriek, escort Firepaw to the other side of the pool,"

Shadowpaw watched as Shriek lead Firepaw down the river towards Log Bridge and sure enough they appeared on the other side of the pool. Bone spoke again, "Firepaw, prove your loyalty towards SorrowClan….Kill Eveninglight!"

Shadowpaw lost her breath just then. Kill an elder?! Kill Eveninglight?!

Firepaw froze, she can't kill and elder! Elders were well respected in the Clans. Killing them was absurd! She was about to just give in when Shadowsoul called out, "Firepaw! You cannot show emotion! Remember what I said to you before! Be merciless! She's just an elder, not important or beneficial to the Clan's work or survival! Kill her!"

Firepaw did want to become leader and help the Clan, but, kill an elder? Well, it wasn't her elder. Eveniglight had served HiddenClan, battling WhisperClan, harming her blood! Why should she respect Eveninglight? But, all the same Firepaw has never killed a cat before.

Eveninglight just stared at Firepaw, waiting for her to make a move…or a decision. But Firepaw didn't make any decision.

"Well, if you're not going to decide," Firepaw looked up to see Eveninglight leaping at her with unsheathed claws. Firepaw has also never seen and elder….move so much.

Acting instantly though, Firepaw dodged, but the elder continued the attack. Firepaw knew dodging wasn't going to get her anywhere. She had to attack. As Eveninglight went for her back, Firepaw turned and snapped her fangs her the elder, getting some of her lower neck, Eveninglight stumbled back a bit and Firepaw, on instinct, continued to attack unleashing her very sharp fangs deep into the elder she-cat's frail throat. Eveninglight gasped quickly in pain but soon ceased and fell limp. Firepaw's fangs were sharp enough to kill quickly when biting the throat.

In shock, Firepaw backed up a bit, shocked completely by what she had just done. "No," she muttered, not even a whisper. Bone grinned, satisfied by the apprentices ability, "Well done Firepaw,"

Louder this time, Firepaw muttered, "No, I didn't mean to kill her! I was, just acting on instinct! I didn't mean to kill her!" she wailed.

Bone only grinned and said, "Instinct, exactly what I needed you to do. Firepaw, from this moment forth you shall be known as Firefang. HorrorClan welcomes you as a new warrior of SorrowClan."

Firefang could barley move as Vixen stalked up to take away Eveninglight's corpse. After a moment, Firefang finally found the strength to move her paws over to the side of the clearing next to Eagle and Leer, who was looked up at Bone with a hint of distaste in his piercing eyes.

"Sunpaw, you're next," Bone announced. Sunpaw was too, shocked at what he had just seen, but went ahead and crossed Log Bridge. Vixen pushed the remaining elder to the clearing, Squirreltail, Sunpaw's grandmother.

"Sunpaw," called out Bone, "You are to kill Squirreltail!"

Without hesitation, Sunpaw objected, "NO! She's my grandmother! Phoenixfeather would never forgive me if I killed her mother!"

"Family loyalties are nothing in SorrowClan. You are loyal only to me," said Bone.

"Sunpaw," muttered Squirreltail, Sunpaw turned towards his grandmother, "If you don't do what he says, who know's what'll happen you yourself. Just go ahead and kill me, I'm getting too old anyway,"

Sunpaw shook his head wildly, "No, no, I don't care what Bone does to me! I refuse to kill you!"

Squirreltail kept her gaze on her kin, "But I care what he does to you. You're far too young to join StarClan. I don't know if he'll kill you or not, but I doubt goodness will come from it. I'm gonna die by this one way or another. I'd rather it'd be by you. Do it as a promise?"

Sunpaw gazed into his grandmother's eyes. Her eyes told him to kill her. No, they didn't tell him, they pleaded him to. And, just like Eveninglight did without warning, Squirreltail leaped at Sunpaw, leaving an opening for her neck. That moment seemed to last forever for Sunpaw, his instinct told him to attack. He told it he didn't want to. But Squirreltail's plead and his mind's pushing, he gave in to instinct. Attacking the center of his grandmother's throat swiftly. Biting quickly, making the elder's death quick and painless as she fell limp in the same manner Eveninglight did. Before Sunpaw had the change to grieve over the body, Vixen came up and quickly took the body away. Sunpaw sat in shock and grief.

Grinning, Bone said, "Well done Sunpaw. Instinct instead of family bonds. Remember that to all of you apprentices!" He gazed down at the shaken Sunpaw who stared blankly at the ground, "Sunpaw, from this moment forth you shall be known as Sunshaft, and HorrorClan welcomes you as a new warrior of SorrowClan."

Sunshaft didn't move. He couldn't believe it; he killed his own grandmother, his own family. He glanced up and saw Shadowsoul glaring at him to move for the next apprentice. Sunshaft moved by Firefang. Shadowpaw looked at Leer; he was glaring at Bone still, with more fury on his face but said nothing. Shadowpaw then noticed Bone glaring back at Leer, they seemed to be having a silent argument.

Continuing, Bone said, "Now I would like Stormpaw to show his skills!"

Stormpaw crossed Log Bridge to take his turn. The next prisoner brought out was one of the kittypets Shadowpaw and Sunshaft had captured that went by the name of Hershey; he was a tom with dark brown fluffy fur that was now muddy and messy. He gazed at Stormpaw with hope he'll go against Bone. Stormpaw looked around him, uneasy. Shadowpaw felt Dovepaw shift next to her.

"Something wrong Dovepaw?" asked Shadowpaw.

"I'm afraid if what'll happen to Stormpaw if he goes against Bone, but I'd hate to have that kittypet die," she muttered.

Shadowpaw frowned, "We're all afraid of what he'll do. I'm sure if Stormpaw does decide to kill, he'll make the death quick and painless,"

Dovepaw wasn't that comforted.

Hershey shifted his paws as he stood before the cat who was supposed to kill him.

Bone commanded, "Begin!"

Stormpaw didn't attack, but Hershey got himself into a defensive position. Just because he was a kittypet, didn't mean he knew nothing on fighting. He hissed, "Just because I'm not wild don't mean you should go easy on me! Go ahead! Fight me! I'm not afraid!" he stated, attempting to be brave.

Stormpaw sighed, "If you really want to fight…"

"I'll make the first move if I have too!" snapped Hershey.

Stormpaw then leaped for the kitteypet. Hershey attempted to dodge but was too slow and Stormpaw was able to catch him by the tail. Hershey snapped his fangs back at Stormpaw but Stormpaw easily dodged and Hershey tumbled over. Stormpaw aimed for his exposed belly, but hesitated, and instead, like what Firefang and Sunshaft had done, went for the throat to give the kittypet a less painful death. Stormpaw snapped his fangs smoothly on the small throat of the kittypet and he died almost instantly. Stormpaw felt terrible inside about actually killing, but at least it was painless.

Shadowpaw felt Dovepaw relax a little, Stormpaw was alright and Hershey died quickly and painlessly. Little blood was spilled.

Bone grinned in satisfaction, "Great job Stormpaw. You had little emotion to that kittypet. From this day forth, you shall be known as Stormtwist, HorrorClan welcomes you as a warrior of SorrowClan,"

Stormtwist watched sadly though as the kittypet's limp body was dragged off by Vixen. Shadowpaw could see the regret in his eyes, and his lust of hate for Bone.

The ceremony continued, "Rosepaw! Come forth!"

Rosepaw padded solemnly across Log Bridge and towards the clearing with her head sunken low. Leer watched the timid apprentice go, with a hint of sadness in those distant green eyes. Shadowpaw wondered what the imposing tom was thinking.

A rouge was brought forth, he was a dirty golden tom rouge. He saw his opponent and smirked, perhaps he could get out alive anyhow. His opponent seemed weak. Once both cats were faced in the clearing, Bone announced, "Start!"

The rouge smirked again and leaped towards Rosepaw with his sharp teeth bared and gleaming claws unsheathed. Rosepaw made a quick dodge and before the rouge had a chance to land, Rosepaw clawed at the rouge's underbelly giving him severe wounds. The rouge yelped and collapsed. Still alive but slowly dying. Bone stared down at Rosepaw, "Finish him," he ordered.

Rosepaw paused, this rouge was no longer threatening her. She had to reason to attack. But, she was afraid of what Bone would do if she didn't and the rouge was suffering, so she leaped at the rouge and dealt the finishing blow and the body went stiff and still with no signs of life.

Rosepaw quickly backed away from the body, unable to look at what she had done as the body was dragged off, like the others. Bone grinned, "From this day forth, you shall be known as Rosethorn! HorrorClan welcomes you as a warrior of SorrowClan!"

Rosethorn padded over to join Sunshaft, Stormtwist and Firefang. She sat and said nothing. She wasn't as affected by the death of her opponent.

"Dovepaw! You're next!" Called Bone.

Dovepaw uneasily got to her paws and headed to the other side of the pool where her opponent, the other rouge, waited for her. The rouge was a bright orange she-cat with fury of her mate's death showing all over her cringed face. Just as Dovepaw entered the clearing, she didn't even wait for Bone's signal, she just leaped in fury at Dovepaw. Taken by surprised, Dovepaw acted immediately on her instinct and used her hunting skills to leap as well and got above the she-cat. Dovepaw landed on her back just before she landed and the two she-cats were dragged to the ground. The rouge attempted to get up but Dovepaw began to claw her back badly. She grimaced and slashed her claws towards Dovepaw, narrowly missing her muzzle. Dovepaw took the miss as an opportunity to get her neck while it was open. She got it and bit down. The rouge yowled but was able to shake Dovepaw away and shake herself. In that time though Dovepaw leaped again and too the rouge by surprise, biting hard on the neck until she finally squeezed the life out of the rouge and she fell from her jaws.

Dovepaw stared at the rouge for a second, shocked with herself for actually killing, yet, proud of herself for winning. She felt pity for the she-cat for getting caught in the first place but felt little regret for killing it since it was only in her own self defense.

"Excellently done Dovepaw!" praised Bone, "From this moment forth, you shall be known as Dovetalon!"

Dovetalon went over to join the others. Feeling like she never earned her warrior name at all. She felt like an apprentice still. Bone's ceremony was an empty ceremony.

Bone raised his voice, "And lastly, Shadowpaw! Prove your loyalties!"

Shadowpaw walked across the old Log Bridge then head towards the clearing with her raven fur bouncing smoothly as she did. There, her opponent was brought out. Hershey's frightened sister by the name of Chocolate. Chocolate was a light brown she-cat with a long tail and whiskers. She looked at Shadowpaw with great fear with her tail wrapped around her legs. The kittypet remembered Shadowpaw from the day she had captured her.

"Fight!" said Bone.

Chocolate tightened her eyelids closed and squeezed her tail around herself with her legs locked together like a statue and ears flat across her head, bracing herself for death. But Shadowpaw kept her claws sheathed and stared down at the Chocolate with sad emotion. Chocolate didn't deserve this, nor did her brother or those elders. Bone's way wasn't right. SorrowClan wasn't right. Nor were its camps.

Chocolate slowly blinked open her eyes, wondering why Shadowpaw hadn't killed her yet. Or wondering if she were already dead and didn't know it. She nervously glanced up at Shadowpaw who looked sadly at her. Chocolate seemed a bit confused.

"Well? Kill her you fox dung!" snapped Vixen.

Shadowpaw broke her gaze from Chocolate and stared directly into Bone's dark yellow eyes. "I'm not going to be killing her Bone," she said strongly.

Bone's eyes narrowed, "What? You defy your loyalty to SorrowClan?!"

Shadowpaw kept her gaze with Bone's, "I never had any loyalty to SorrowClan,"

Bone's face cringed, "You wish to not be a warrior?!"

Shadowpaw didn't even blink, "Never do I wish to be a warrior under SorrowClan,"

Vixen, Shriek and Scowl growled at Shadowpaw. Eagle gazed in horror at the scene, yet with pride. Screech the same and Leer watched the scene tensed, but his eyes flickered with pride for Shadowpaw.

Firefang stared admiringly at Shadowpaw's courage. Sunshaft looked at it dreadfully. What would happen to Shadowpaw now?!

Bone scowled, "So be it! If you wish not to be apart of SorrowClan, then you shall be a prisoner of SorrowClan! Vixen! Shriek! Take her to the prisoner cave and throw in the kittypet with her!"

Sunshaft was about to protest but Leer stopped him, "Relax Sunshaft," he whispered, "Leave things to me and all will be fine,"

The tone in Leer's words relaxed Sunshaft, but he clawed the ground angrily as he watched Shadowpaw be hauled off roughly by Vixen and Shriek as a prisoner of SorrowClan.

AN. Okay, I think that was the longest I've ever done! Please review! I hope to get more reviews this chapter...especially since this one took me a bit longer. Hope to have Chapter Twenty up soon!