Ewwies... -pokes chapter- i hate this chapter. I feel i went a little off-topic off on this one, and i appologies. Anyways, bear with me when it comes to this chapter... I promise i'll make the next one better. And before you ask how many chapters this story'll have, I have over eighty ideas planned out. So, be ready for a long, long, haul.

Pinkpelt: Well, that certainly makes sence, doesn't it?

CinderDreams: hehehe, always best to be unsure.

Cloudfire: IF he really loves her...

Tainted Shadow Rebel: Well, that's a good idea, maybe later...

Runningstorm: Yeah, everyone has their issues.

I Be Guest: Lol, but he's the leader!

Redtails' Lov - Grassfeather: Oo, i may consider those names for the future...

She Who Sulks In The Shadows: Hehehe, i loved writing that chapter as well...

When I was little and my life was just beginning its' terrible downfall, I saw only in black and white, literally. But now, in the beginning of my life as a warrior, I still see only in colors. Not literally, but mentally. Life isn't as zesty as it is to you and I, I can only enjoy the flowers for their looks, not their color or their scent. Because when Diamondshine cast me out of her life, her body, and her memories, I felt as if the world had really lost all of its' color, and I could do nothing but watch as the black overpowered the white and my fate began to seal itself falsely in my mind.

It was a full moon before Brownleaf even let me walk outside of the Medicine Cat den, and another seven moonrises before she told me I could return to training. I had a slight wheeze in my chest though, and she gave me herbs everyday to lessen it.

From the fever though, my muscles had grown loose and flexible, surprising many cats that I play fought with, even Darkflower and Blackstripe. Everyone knew I was ready for my warrior ceremony, even Smokestar, though he chose to ignore me.

Darkflower was growing onto Blackstripe as well, I often found them together, sometimes Blackstripe would be relaxing and Darkflower would be curled at his side, asleep, or they would be hunting or eating together.

All of the apprentices were beginning to change. Graypaw and Bronzepaw, who are one moon younger them me, were beginning to lengthen and broadened, and once they filled in would make intimidating warriors. I had already filled in, and was taller then Blackstripe and Darkflower. Silverpaw and Marshpaw were growing too, but differently. Where Marshpaw grew broad shoulders and longer legs, Silverpaw only grew long legs.

Diamondshine was right too; her litter would be a large one. Her belly was already swollen like a balloon, and she ate quite a lot. Smokestar spent every moment he could with her, laying much of the trust of ordering the cats around on Blackstripes' shoulders. Blackstripe was beginning to test me as well, often sending me out on border patrols alone to see what I would do.

Today was one of these days, I had been picked to go alone over the ThunderClan border twice, and then hunt afterwards. I was eager to prove myself, the clan was starving from leaf-bare and one or two cat patrols were common now that most of the warriors were sent out hunting. I trotted up along the river, careful to keep a good two foxlengths between me and it, the fear of drowning still clear in my mind.

As I turned around the bend of the river, a fresh scent hit my nose. I blinked and twitched my ears, recognizing it. It was Petalpaws, and I raced farther upstream before skidding to a halt as a second scent hit my nose, Pantherclaw. I jumped into a holly bush just as they passed into view, apparently on a border patrol.

"Petalpaw, why are you so quiet today?" demanded Pantherclaw with a sharp growl, "Usually you're as talkative as the elders when their bored. Your warrior ceremony is tonight, aren't you happy about it?"

I flicked my ears; Petalpaw was having her warrior ceremony tonight? Lucky her, she must be about the same age and me and she's getting her ceremony first! Petalpaw flicked her ears and looked down, shifting her weight onto her paws quietly.

"Don't be a mute;" snarled Pantherclaw, "As your mentor I'm to tell you what it's like to be a warrior as an individual as well as a team." He rolled his eyes, "At least, that's what Oceanwind says. So let's see…" he sat down on the forest floor and flicked his tail, "Being a warrior as an individual, everything is… colored, normally, like the leaves being green and the sky being blue. But as a group…" he frowned, "Being in a group slows you down. Never be in a group."

Petalpaw looked up, surprised, the mewed something quietly under her breath. Pantherclaw looked towards her sharply. Fur on the back of his neck prickling.

"What did you say?" He demanded.

"I said, I think that being in a group, being a team, as part of a team, is more…" Petalpaw hesitated, and then decided to use Pantherclaws' metaphor, "colorful." She smiled, "I think that… I think that everything may be sharper, exotic, and more colorful in a team, because there's more sets of eyes to see and noses to smell and ears to hear. I would never want to be on my own." Pantherclaw flicked his tail irritably as Petalpaw shifted her gaze to the lake.

"I'm lucky I have good friends like Wavepaw and Tricklepaw." She meowed more confidently, "Because I'm never alone. I mean, mentally, not physically, because there's nothing more painful then being alone. And if you really are alone, there's nothing to appreciate, not the leaves or the sky or the prey. If you're alone, there's no color to the world."

"Don't go dreaming like that all day," growled Pantherclaw, standing and flicking his tail, "Honestly, you're my most spacey apprentice yet. Come on, now, you're warrior ceremony is waiting for you."

Petalpaw and Pantherclaw left. But I remained. I dug my claws into the ground and bent my head towards the ground, dipping it into a small puddle of salty water. I felt my eyes burn, my heart ache. And that was the first time I cried because I was happy.

Petalpaw taught me. Without even knowing she taught me that I wasn't alone. Because the world is exotic to me. It's new and beautiful and just perfect. Perfect, meaning that it's the way it should be, with all of its' imperfections. With all of its' exotic colors. With all of its' exotic smells. With all of its colors. And with those colors, friendship, a sharper view of life, and a knowledge that you are never, never alone.

See what i mean? I hate this chapter. Anyways, Poll time!

WHAT SHOULD SNAKEPAWS' WARRIOR NAME OUT OF -

1 - Snakeheart

2 - Snaketail

3 - Snakefang

4 - Snakefrost

or 5 - Snakestrike

Review your answer!