Hey, guys!

First of all: allow me to plead.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FORGIVE ME!! XP (waves)

I'm really sorry: i had a trip to Iowa, (yes, I am in Iowa now) and I've had writer's block like crazy! Plus I have 3 other stories to manage...I might continue my old story, 'The Era of Shattered Dreams'. It was before whitewing was a warrior, so in that story she's Whitefur...but I'll change that! XP

Enjoy,

pearla

PS: A warm thank-you to all my reviewers! XP (waves again)

"Wolfpaw!" Silverpaw's yowl echoed across the clearing. "Wolfpaw!!"

Early morning dew stubbornly clung onto the soft, wispy grass, and pink dawn clouds were mixing with the light blue sky. It was a perfect morning: though shadowed by the fear of Rosepetal's death.

The silver apprentice was already having her doubts about telling her Clanmate the plan to go after the murderers. She didn't even know how he would react, for StarClan's sake!

Will Wolfpaw think I'm crazy?

Another thought struck her as an image of her mother came into her head.

Will he tell Flamestar?

If he did, she decided, she would have to find a way to deny it.

"Hey," said a small voice, and Silverpaw turned to see Leopardkit next to her, his green eyes wide. "Don't worry: I know Wolfpaw. He won't tell a single cat."

Silverpaw had already confirmed to her youngest den mate about the 'gatherings' in which they would meet with ShadowClan cats. He was as excited as ever: and since Silverpaw had suckled side-by-side with him in the nursery, she knew that she could trust him not to blab.

But would the same go to her friend?

She gathered her courage and shrieked again, "Wolfpaw!!"

The green-eyed tom stared up, surprised. He looked around, as if he expected to see a badger lumber into came, and then caught sight of her. She beckoned him over with her tail.

"What, Silverpaw?" he asked impatiently as he padded over, tail held high. "You scared me out of my fur! Lichenspots is taking me on a hunting patrol about now, okay? I don't have time to-"

"Do you want to avenge Rosepetal?" Silverpaw cut in sharply. Wolfpaw looked taken aback for a moment, frowning.

"What?"

"I asked if you wanted to avenge my mentor, my brother, and every other cat that fell to the claws of our enemies!" She thought of Brownclaw as she said this. How could he have been the Rabbitpaw she had known? The friendly apprentice that she had known would put his Clan before his life. So why had he run away to ShadowClan?

"O-of course!"
"Then you're coming with me tonight to the Cornfields."

"To the Cornfields? Why?"
"Listen," Silverpaw gently cuffed him across the ear with one paw. "You're one of the first cats I'm telling, Wolfpaw. Remember the day I accidentally stranded too far off?"

"Yea?"

"Well, I accidentally went across the ShadowClan border. I met a ShadowClan kit-she was near the border. Her name's Goldkit, and she's really fierce-but I like her. She has no mentor yet but she could drive off a badger. Honestly. Anyways," she swept on. "Wolfpaw, she became my friend. I know it's not allowed to have friends in other Clans-only at Gatherings. But she was with me when I found Rosepetal dead and-and she and I want to hunt down the killers with her friends. I've told Leopardkit, too: he wants to come."

"Silverpaw!" snapped Wolfpaw, more shocked at the proposal than the fact that Silverpaw was meeting with a ShadowClan cat. "You're barely 5 days old as an apprentice! And Leopardkit- he's just a kit! You need help!"

"That's why I'm asking you!" Silverpaw mewed desperately. "I can't tell Nightpaw: she worries too much. I was hoping to wait until Goldkit and Leopardkit become apprentices-and then we would track them down together!"

For a moment the whole forest seemed to hold its breath. And then…

"Are you sure it's not a trap of ShadowClan's?" Wolfpaw growled. Rarely had Silverpaw seen him so excited: his face flushed and his eyes alight with adventure and battle.

"I'm positive," said Silverpaw firmly. "Goldkit would never do something like that. Plus she has a give-away-face. I would know if she was telling the truth."

"Wolfpaw!" another voice rang out. "Are you coming on the hunting patrol or should I just send you to check the elder's pelts?"

"Coming!" Wolfpaw called, but he turned to face Silverpaw.

"Then by all means: I'll help you. If," he continued as Silverpaw's face lit up with happiness, "you promise to tell Nightpaw."

"What?!" Silverpaw reeled back as if struck by an unsheathed paw. "Why?"

"Because she's my best friend: and she's your best friend…and she's one of the Clans best warrior apprentices. How do you think she would feel if you didn't tell her and she found out?"

"But out first meeting is tonight!" wailed Silverpaw.

"Then tell her before that!" The tom had already bounded away to join his mentor as he called back over his shoulder.

Tomcats!

Silverpaw sighed.

She would tell Nightpaw. But not today. Tonight was the first meeting…and she wouldn't have Nightpaw ruin it.

"Sorry, Nightpaw," she thought desperately. "But I'm not kit anymore for you to worry about me. I have to take my chances this time. For Rosepetal: and for my Clan."