Disclaimer: If I owned Warriors, pigeons would become extinct once word was out that it was a bestseller and people would faint in disgust from reading it.

Chapter One

A pretty white she-cat yawned as she uncurled herself. The sunlight streamed in through the opening of the den as she got up. She immediately regretted it, wanting to curl up back next to her best friend, Mistypaw, but she had to get ready for training. The day was frigid, the chilly air nipping at her, cutting right through her fur. This leaf-bare wouldn't be an easy one.

The rest of the apprentices began to shift and get up slowly. Soon, a silver-white she-cat padded up next to the white she-cat. They sat next to each other in compatible silence, watching the sun rise over the foamy white waves.

"C'mon Mistypaw, let's grab something to eat before Seastar and my mom get too impatient," The white she-cat was the first to speak. Her tail twitched toward a smooth rock that jutted out from the sheer rock face that surrounded most of the camp, protecting it from harsh winds and keeping predators out.

Many caverns had been carved into the rock, some by Twolegs, who soon abandoned it. Some naturally, by flowing rivers and streams that once ran freely through the camp. Now these deep caverns provided dens for the cats of the Clan. A silver she-cat emerged from a cavern carved into the rock, carved out by a roaring river that had once flowed through the camp. Now, though, it was only diminished to a small creek that trickled straight through the center of the camp, only three cat-lengths wide.

Mistypaw, the silver-white she-cat, merely nodded and the two apprentices picked a skinny vole to share. They ate quickly and silently. Normally, they weren't this quiet, but the ominous attack from NightClan a quarter-moon ago still hung in the air.

NightClan was one of the four Clans of the Shore. They roamed in the night, claiming the barren Fields of Wasted Wheat as their territory. It was quite well-known that NightClan was suffering hard times, but why they attacked was mysterious. Only a corner of NightClan's territory touched OceanClan territory, and event that was neutral territory, for it was the Corner of Elements, the place where Gatherings were held each full moon. EarthClan's territory stood between OceanClan and EarthClan.

"Mistypaw! Moonpaw!" The silver she-cat yowled. "Hurry up! We have no time to waste! Thunderpaw! Butterflypaw! You two will be coming as well!"

The two she-cat apprentices gave each other meaningful looks, and headed toward where the silver she-cat was standing, at the opposite side of camp. They splashed easily through the stream, used to the water, and stood in front of the she-cat. Although the silver she-cat looked like any other Clan cat, she was not. She had a regal air about her, intimidating and noble. She was the leader of OceanClan, Silvermoon.

"Good, good," Silvermoon muttered, then louder, she yowled again. "Thunderpaw, Butterflypaw! You two mousebrains hurry up!"

A few moments later, a black tom and a pretty golden she-cat came to stand before Silvermoon as well. "Sorry, Silvermoon," They meowed respectfully, lowering their heads and crouching.

"It's time you came," Silvermoon reprimanded sharply. "With NightClan attacking, we must train harder than ever. That's why we will be pitting you four two against two. Mistypaw and Moonpaw against Thunderpaw and Butterflypaw. Claws will be sheathed. We cannot risk injuries."

"Terrific!" Moonpaw hissed to Mistypaw excitedly. "This is exactly what we've been training for!"

"But it'll ruin my fur!" Butterflypaw replied with a whine. "I just spent all morning grooming it!"

Moonpaw and Mistypaw both rolled their eyes at this. Every cat in the camp knew that, although Butterflypaw was gorgeous, she was quite vain and cared more about her looks. She was the exact opposite of her sister, Mothpaw, who, although was pretty, cared nothing for her looks. Thunderpaw only grinned like an idiot, staring at Butterflypaw, quite unlike his usual, grumpy self.

"Look at him!" Mistypaw hissed back. "He's acting like a complete mousebrain in front of Butterflypaw! I can't believe he'd fall for her."

Almost every young tom in OceanClan had fallen for Butterflypaw one time or another. The she-cat was just overly flirtatious. Moonpaw was quite glad that her own brother, Ironpaw, had already fallen for Butterflypaw and gotten over it. Suddenly, Moonpaw felt a flaring anger at seeing Butterflypaw flirt with Thunderpaw. She had no idea why.

"Seen that already," Moonpaw replied with an annoyed lashing of her tail. "At least Ironpaw's over it. It'll be the most annoying time of your life ever." She understood how Mistypaw felt, after all, Thunderpaw was Mistypaw's brother.

"Butterflypaw, you will go, and if I find you slacking off, you will be severely punished," Silvermoon yowled sharply, so that at least half the Clan could hear.

With that, the silver she-cat whirled around and with a twitch of her feathery gray tail, gestured for them to follow her out of camp. Moonpaw and Mistypaw bounded along, side by side. Occasionally they would hiss something to each other, but their conversations were short and terse. Tension crackled in the air, each cat expecting NightClan to attack them any moment.

Thankfully, the trip to the sandy hollow on the beach was uneventful. They caught scent of some fox, but it was stale. The other three mentors were waiting in the hollow. Seastar, Moonpaw's mentor; Eagleeye, Butterflypaw's mentor; and Robinfeather, Thunderpaw's mentor.

"I take it Silvermoon has told you four what we will be doing?" Seastar purred. The apprentices nodded. "Then let the fight begin!" He yowled.

Thunderpaw immediately pounced on Mistypaw. Although the she-cat was his sister, he showed no mercy. Butterflypaw, on the other hand, seemed to be holding back, only retaliating. Moonpaw leaped at Thunderpaw, and together, Mistypaw and Moonpaw were able to force Thunderpaw back.

After a while of Thunderpaw being batted around like a leaf in leaf-fall, Silvermoon yowled for them to stop, obviously taking pity on Thunderpaw.

"I am extremely disappointed in all of you!" She meowed sharply. "You will never become successful fighters if you can't master the art of working together!" She emphasized the last two words severely. "Mistypaw and Moonpaw got the idea… slightly. But Thunderpaw and Butterflypaw!" She hissed disapprovingly.

Moonpaw glanced at Thunderpaw, who looked utterly battered and defeated. He seemed to be glaring at Butterflypaw and edging away from her, closer to Mistypaw. Moonpaw grinned at Mistypaw.

"Well, he seemed to get over her fast," She hissed. "It took Ironpaw way longer than that."

"Well, I'm glad Ironpaw got over it," Mistypaw replied quietly, then she quickly stopped, looking as if she had said something wrong. "I meant… I meant Thunderpaw."

Moonpaw merely gave Mistypaw a disbelieving look, knowing that something was going on, but she didn't say anything. At that moment, Silvermoon gave them a sharp look to silence them.

"Now, we shall work a bit more on our fighting skills before you will be dispersed to hunt, and then return to camp," Silvermoon yowled. "You will be paired up with another apprentice and your mentors will watch and give you instructions."

Moonpaw's tail flicked nervously. She hoped she wouldn't be paired up with Mistypaw. They were great friends and often fought each other to practice, but underneath the piercing gaze of Silvermoon and Seastar wasn't the easiest thing.

"Mistypaw and Butterflypaw will be a pair. Moonpaw and Thunderpaw will be a pair," Seastar added.

Moonpaw groaned inwardly. Thunderpaw was one of the strongest apprentices in camp. No doubt he would become a respected, strong warrior. And he obviously wouldn't take it easy on her. But she had to do it.

She padded over to where Seastar, Robinfeather, and Thunderpaw were waiting. Thunderpaw was no longer grinning stupidly like he had with Butterflypaw. Maybe he really had gotten over Butterflypaw. He was back to his usual self. His eyes stormy and gray as thunderclouds, and unreadable, emotionless expression on his face.

"Okay you two," Robinfeather purred. "I'd like for you two apprentices to fight, claws sheathed of course. As Silvermoon said, we cannot risk even a single drop of blood to be spilled."

Moonpaw tensed, crouching down. Her tail lashed from side to side as she judged the best way to attack Thunderpaw. Meanwhile, Thunderpaw looked a bit unsure as he crouched as well, mirroring Moonpaw's moves.

Moonpaw had great agility and speed, which made her an excellent hunter. But it didn't help her when fighting, except that she could dodge blows easily. She didn't have the power and aggressiveness that made a good fighter.

Surprise, surprise, Moonpaw told herself mentally. The only way she'd be able to get a hit in was if she could launch an unexpected attack. Never make the first move. Seastar's words rang in her head. But Thunderpaw wasn't doing anything, how could she not make the first move?

Suddenly, Thunderpaw jumped, launching himself toward Moonpaw. She quickly ducked down and forward, flattening her ears, her fur bristling as Thunderpaw missed her by whisker lengths, careening over her and landing on his paws in the dust behind her. She quickly turned around to confront him, this time quickly judging where best to strike.

She feigned a swipe to his right side and pushed herself forward to barrel into his left side, full force. He was caught by surprise, clearly distracted, and Moonpaw was able to knock the considerably larger tom into the sand, pinning him down. She grinned, and purred with amusement as he wriggled underneath her paws, trying to get free. She herself was surprised that it was so easy to knock Thunderpaw down. Usually he would've been a more formidable opponent.

"Okay Moonpaw, you can let him go now," Robinfeather purred, her tail twitching in amusement. "Thunderpaw!" She rounded on the tom. "You're clearly distracted! I expected you to be better than this! What's on your mind? I hope not that she-cat," She added, her tail twitching toward Butterflypaw, who was being pummeled by Mistypaw. There was disgust in her voice as she said so. "I never thought that you'd let a she-cat beat you!" She added with an mrrow of laughter. "No offense to you, of course," She told Moonpaw with a twinkle in her eye. "We she-cats clearly are superior to toms."

Seastar playfully batted at Robinfeather, who only pretended to be annoyed and swiped at him back. They quickly stopped acting like kits and turned serious again.

"Moonpaw, that was a nice move you did there," Robinfeather praised.

"But Thunderpaw was distracted. It wouldn't have been as easily accomplished if Thunderpaw hadn't been distracted," Seastar added warningly, clearly not wanting Moonpaw to get overly egotistic.

"I know," Moonpaw mewed. "I guess I was lucky," She added with a shrug.

-

"That's enough for today!" Silvermoon yowled.

It was already quite past sunhigh and the sun was starting its journey toward the sun-resting waters. It was a glorious sight during newleaf and greenleaf. But right now, it was too cold to enjoy the sight on the Fields of Sand.

The apprentices were all battered, dusty, and tired. Moonpaw's paws were sore from dodging so much and trying to hit Thunderpaw. She didn't feel like hunting on the way back at all. But they had to. She quickly joined up with Mistypaw and they set a brisk pace back to camp, catching a few fish and a vole along the way.

As they entered camp, they saw that Butterflypaw was already back. And checking her reflection in the stream, as usual. The vain she-cat probably hadn't even hunted at all. Thunderpaw wasn't back yet, neither were any of the other apprentices from their training.

Moonpaw and Mistypaw padded over to a moss-lined, hollow, fallen tree. The entrance was covered with a tangle of brambles, except for a slight hole just wide enough for two cats to squeeze through, side by side. They slipped in, various holes in the tree, positioned at certain spots, provided light to enter the tree trunk, which, surprisingly, was fairly light.

"Ah… our two favorite apprentices have arrived," A voice rasped.

Moonpaw's fur felt hot from embarrassment as she dipped her head in respect to the cat who had spoke. A pale silver-grey she-cat, whitening with age. She dropped a fish in front of the elder and stepped back respectfully. Mistypaw, in turn, dropped the vole in front of another elder.

"No… no…" The tom said. "You two young cats deserve something special. I'll settle for the fish today."

"Thank you, Raggedear," Mistypaw and Moonpaw chorused in unison. They distributed the rest of the prey among the elders, then retreated out of the den, dropping the remaining fish in the fresh-kill pile and sharing the vole.

"Mistypaw?" Moonpaw finally purred. The grey she-cat looked up. "What's with you and Ironpaw?"

"Nuh… nothing," Mistypaw stammered nervously.

"C'mon, Mistypaw," Moonpaw teased lightly, playfully swatting at the other she-cat. "I know something's going on."

Mistypaw sighed. "Fine, I'll tell you. I like him, okay?" The she-cat rolled her eyes.

"But… but… he's my brother!" Moonpaw gasped. All of sudden, she started mrrowing in laughter. At Mistypaw's hurt expression, she quickly stopped. "Sorry… I'm not laughing at you," She quickly explained. "It's just… it's just…" She finally stopped trying, and now it was Mistypaw who started laughing.

"All cats who are old enough to catch their own prey, join beneath Rushingrock for a Clan Meeting!" Silvermoon's ringing yowl echoed through the camp.

Cats of OceanClan swarmed toward the rock that jutted out of the camp wall. Mistypaw and Moonpaw shot each other questioning glances, then darted to sit in the mass of cats as well, gazing up at Silvermoon, who sat regally on Rushingrock.

"As many of you may know," Silvermoon began. "Tonight is a full moon. A Gathering. There has been… much… disturbance in our forest and shore lately. Before I announce the cats who will join me to the Gathering, I wish to say this. No cat of OceanClan will utter one word of NightClan's attack. No cat." The cats began to mutter among themselves nervously, but Silvermoon's commanding yowl silenced them. "Joining me at the Gathering shall be… Seastar, Aspensun, Iceheart, Eagleeye, Hawkwing, and Robinfeather. The apprentices Moonpaw, Mistypaw, Ironpaw, Thunderpaw, Mothpaw, and Butterflypaw shall be coming as well."

Moonpaw gave the brown tom sitting beside her a sideways glance. Rabbitpaw was the oldest and most experienced apprentice, and he was the only one not going to the Gathering tonight. He must be disappointed. Sure enough, the tom's tail was lashing, and the fur on his back stood up.

"Rabbitpaw will not be coming to the Gathering, because now I would like to have your Warrior Ceremony," Silvermoon continued. "Rabbitpaw, come up here."

Moonpaw saw the light flood into Rabbitpaw's eyes as he sat up straighter and leaped onto Rushingrock to stand before Silvermoon. His head was bowed respectfully.

"I, Silvermoon, call upon my warrior ancestors to look upon this apprentice. He has trained hard to understand the ways of your noble code, and I commend him to you as a warrior in his turn," Silvermoon yowled the traditional words of the warrior ceremony. "Rabbitpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and protect and defend your Clan, even at the cost of your life?"

"I do," Rabbitpaw mewed respectfully, like he was supposed to.

"Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name. Rabbitpaw, from this day forth, you shall be known as Rabbitfoot. StarClan honors your swiftness and quick-thinking, and we welcome you a full warrior of OceanClan."

Rabbitpaw licked Silvermoon's shoulder respectfully, then jumped down off of Rushingrock.

"Rabbitfoot! Rabbitfoot!" Moonpaw began chanting, and the other cats soon followed. She bounded over to Rabbitfoot and quickly licked his shoulder. The tom was like an older brother to her and she looked up to him much.

Robinfeather and a red-brown tom came over as well. Robinfeather was no doubt Rabbitfoot's mother and she licked him between his ears affectionately. The tom was Mapleleaf, Rabbitfoot's former mentor, and he touched noses with Rabbitfoot.

"Rabbitfoot, you will sit vigil through the night," Silvermoon purred, jumping down from Rushingrock. "I expect those going to the Gathering to be ready by the time the sun has painted the sun-resting waters." With that, the cat padded into her den.

-

The cats were hushed, not a word was uttered. The sun had disappeared into the sun-resting waters and the moon was glowing above them. It painted the land silver and white underneath it's glow. The sand was pure silver, the waves, dark silver crashing against the shore. The cats were still as perfect silver statues underneath it's glow, poised, not a muscle moved as they waited for Silvermoon's signal.

The cats of OceanClan that were going to the Gathering were perched on one side of the sand dune that led to the Gathering area that was on the edge of the sandy beach, near the Forests of Everlife, Meadows of Reflected Sky, and the Fields of Wasted Wheat. The four corners of the Clans touched that point, where all of their territories were combined into one spot.

Then, a slight movement. Silvermoon's tail twitched in the slightest, silent signal to move on. Stream-lined silver shadows of the OceanClan cats appeared over the crest of the dune and poured down the other side. The cats followed a single cat in the lead, then at another subtle signal, spread off and began mingling with the other Clans.

Moonpaw and Mistypaw walked side by side to a group of apprentices from all four Clans. It was a rather large group, and as usual, Butterflypaw was the center of attention. At least, with the toms, she was. Thunderpaw was there as well, but he was as far away from Butterflypaw as possible.

"Look at Butterflypaw, again," Moonpaw rolled her eyes. "C'mon, let's see what's going on."

They quickly slipped into the circle, and greeted all the apprentices, which they knew by name. Most of them, at least.

"I don't know you," Moonpaw mewed to a golden-brown she-cat. "I'm Moonpaw of OceanClan."

"I'm Sparkpaw," The she-cat replied arrogantly. "I guess our paths never crossed because I'm obviously more high-classed than you," She added. "I'm daughter of Goldenmoon and Lightningstreak."

"Another Butterflypaw," Mistypaw hissed to Moonpaw, and Moonpaw's ears twitched in agreement.

"Well… I guess it's true our paths never crossed. After all, I'm more high-classed than you," Moonpaw replied just as snootily. "I'm nearly a warrior. And I'm daughter of Silvermoon and Iceheart."

"Right…" Sparkpaw hissed, her tail lashing in annoyance. But Moonpaw could tell that Sparkpaw was simply annoyed. She actually believed that the fact that Moonpaw was daughter of Silvermoon and Iceheart, which was, after all, true.

"Don't mind Sparkpaw," A pretty black she-cat mewed. It was Inkpaw, SunClan's medicine cat apprentice. "She's always like that."

"Good thing you set her straight," Brownpaw, another SunClan apprentice, chimed in. "She's always such a snob. Acting like she's better than everyone just because she's daughter of the leader." The she-cat rolled her eyes.

Sparkpaw gave them a "I'm gonna murder you" look, before stalking off, her tail held high. She didn't even here the muffled purrs of laughter that followed her.

A commanding yowl rang from Sand Dune and all the cats swarmed underneath the four Great Elements, where the leaders stood. OceanClan had the Sand Dune, EarthClan had Mosswood, SunClan had Reflectingrock, and NightClan had Wastedwood. Mosswood was a trunk covered with moss, Reflectingrock was an extremely shiny rock that reflected the light of moon and sun, and Wastedwood was a rotting trunk.

"I'd like to open this Gathering," Silvermoon yowled. "By announcing a new warrior of OceanClan. Today, Rabbitpaw became Rabbitfoot. He sits vigil tonight at camp."

As agreed, none of the Clan had mentioned a thing about NightClan's attack. And Silvermoon didn't say a thing as she stepped back to allow Rosemoon, the leader of EarthClan, to step forward.

The pretty rose-brown she-cat was slight and small compared to the other leaders, but she, like the other leaders, had a commanding, imperious air. "Very recently," She yowled. "Our medicine cat received an ominous prophecy from StarClan. We have heard from sources that the other Clans' medicine cats have received the same prophecy?"

The cats below began muttering amongst themselves and Moonpaw and Mistypaw glanced at each other nervously. It was true. OceanClan's medicine cat, Aspensun, had received an ominous prophecy from StarClan. They tried to push it away, for it had come right after NightClan had attacked. For all they knew, the prophecy could take place in another many moons. And OceanClan didn't want to add a prophecy that had to be fulfilled to their troubles. They had enough on their paws with NightClan.

"Quiet!" Rosemoon yowled sharply once again. "I would like to —" The rest of what she was about to say was cut off as a sharp yowl of attack rang around the now quiet Corner.

(A/N: Review peeps! Reviews are what keep this going! Also... some think that this is like Midnight. True. The prophecy SOUNDS like Midnight. And this was inspired by Midnight. But no... otherwise, it is NOTHING like Midnight.)