Hi! Back with yet another update! This is the last chappie before things get, well interesting for our main-characters. No further rambling.

Special thanks to all who have reviewed and to The Legendary Firestar for contributing ideas!

Disclaimer: Sadly all of you who have me and my Co. Authors confused with Erin Hunter are mistaken, but we DO at least own the plot and characters.

--

Previously…

Just then, Rainpaw laid eyes on the new group of cats that had entered the clearing. ShadowClan raced into the clearing, but the cat who jumped up on to the Great Rock to stand with the other leaders wasn't Brownstar- ShadowClan's elderly leader, it wasn't even Hawkfur. It was Darkfur.

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Chapter 7: Loyalty

Rainpaw's POV

Rainpaw couldn't hold back the gasp that escaped from her mouth as Darkfur leapt up on to the great rock; lucky for her, no one noticed. How could this be? Darkfur couldn't be leader, could he? That would mean that he had already killed Hawkfur and Brownstar. The Clans had to be warned, but what could she do…

Rainpaw's mental rambling was cut short by Minnowstar, RiverClan's leader, announcing the start of the gathering.

"Welcome! We gather here under the full moon by the will of StarClan," she began, "Darkfur, will you please begin?"

"ShadowClan come bringing tragic news," Darkfur yowled, his voice filled with authority: he was confident, too confident. "Our previous deputy, Hawkfur, was killed by a passing rouge yesterday. The rouge responsible was killed while he was still gloating over his victory. Hawkfur's replacement is me."



'That dirty, rotten liar! Standing up there telling all of the Clans that some rouge committed Hawkfur's murder!' thought Rainpaw. 'How can ShadowClan accept him?'

Darkfur's eyes glinted with ambition, not grief. He seemed almost happy.

"Darkfur! Darkfur!" chanted the ShadowClan cats. Minnowstar mewed congratulations to Darkfur. Rainpaw noticed Eaglestar only nodded curtly to the dark warrior. 'Good,' Rainpaw thought, 'At least one Clan won't be fooled by him!' The young she-cat remembered how she and Windfur had told the elderly leader everything only a few hours earlier.

Rainpaw noticed that few cats looked upset or even remotely bothered by the announcement of Hawkfur's death; in fact, some cats even seemed pleased about it.

"Looks like ShadowClan finally got themselves a decent deputy," muttered a RiverClan elder standing nearby, "Hawkfur was a poor choice of Brownstar's; there's bad blood in that one. Can't trust a half-clan."

Rainpaw couldn't stop herself from letting out a snarl. How dare that elder insult Hawkfur? Darkfur was the one who couldn't be trusted! She would show him what half-clan cats were made of, oh yes…

"What are you doing, Rainpaw!" hissed Streampaw and Cloverpaw in unison.

Rainpaw realized that she was in a hunters crouch, ready to spring.

"Sorry. It's just that elder over there said that half-clan cats couldn't be trusted," explained Rainpaw.

Cloverpaw and the other apprentices simply looked confused.

"My mother was half-clan," she finished a little too quickly. Lucky for Rainpaw, the leaders had started talking again, saving her from the awkward questions she was sure her companions wanted to ask her.

"That's all well and good Darkfur, but that still doesn't explain Brownstar's absence," said the fourth leader on the Great Rock--a small she-cat that looked a bit like Littlewhisker. The cat must be Smallstar, ThunderClan's powerful leader. Despite her size, it was told by the elders that she had once taken on not one, but two, fully grown badgers at once; and won!



Darkfur didn't even flinch at the ThunderClan leader's comment. He continued his lies in his smooth and sinister voice for all the Clans to hear. "I am here in Brownstar's place. I am sad to announce that StarClan is calling him to join them soon. He has fallen fatally ill with Blackcough in his old age."

Rainpaw didn't know if the dark warrior was lying or not. The other leaders bowed their heads in respect to the absent ShadowClan leader. Some of the ShadowClan cats let out wails of grief. This confused Rainpaw. She knew that Darkfur had already killed her father, but was it possible that he wasn't lying about the ShadowClan leader's sickness? Rainpaw shivered. He most likely wasn't; the reactions of the other ShadowClan cats told her this. Yet, Rainpaw wasn't stupid: she knew Darkfur would kill the ShadowClan leader eventually, if the Blackcough didn't beat him to the task… Rainpaw shuddered and pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind.

In the meantime, Darkfur had begun to speak again.

"...our Medicine Cat apprentice, Mintpaw, has completed her training and has now assumed full Medicine Cat duties. Her new name is Mintfur."

Jubilant cries of "Mintfur! Mintfur!" came from the ShadowClan cats.

"Other than that, ShadowClan has nothing to report," he finished.

Minnowstar of RiverClan moved forward to speak next. "RiverClan have three new apprentices, Hollyflower's kits, Whitepaw, Streampaw and Russetpaw are here tonight. Their mentors are Moontail, Smokefur, and Lightfeather."

Streampaw held his head up proudly as his Clan chanted his name. Rainpaw joined in before she could stop herself. A russet-colored tom sitting a few fox-lengths away raised his head high in pride as well; Rainpaw guessed he must be Streampaw's brother, Russetpaw. He was rather cocky looking, in Rainpaw's opinion. Much unlike his brother, Streampaw.

"We also have had a new litter of kits born to Hollyflower, and two new warriors, Shadowclaw and Icepelt" continued Minnowstar.

There was more cheering, this time some from other Clans as well. Minnowstar waited for the cats to be silent before continuing.

"I have nothing else to report. Would you like to speak next, Smallstar?"



"Certainly," replied the ThunderClan leader, "Last night, one of our warriors drove a badger from our territory, an old female. We think it may have crossed into ShadowClan territory."

"Thank-you for the warning Smallstar," said Darkfur coolly, "I will see that my warriors deal with it accordingly."

'He speaks as though he's already leader,' thought Rainpaw. 'I just hope his ambition will be content with ruling over one Clan…'

"We also have a new warrior, Cloudpelt, and a new Medicine Cat apprentice, Chasepaw," continued Smallstar, "Chasepaw couldn't come tonight, but Cloudpelt is here."

She allowed her Clan to chant Cloudpelt's name before continuing the meeting. "That is all we have to report," she finished.

The next chat to speak was Eaglestar.

"Little has happened in WindClan since the last gathering," he began. Rainpaw knew he wasn't going to announce her visions to the other Clans, but she still held her breath. "But we have three new apprentices. Snowpaw and Leafpaw are training to be warriors, and Rainpaw is in training to be WindClan's next Medicine Cat."

Rainpaw noticed that the cheering was the quietest by far, some WindClan cats even scowled, but she was pleased to see that Littlewhisker, Shortstripe, Streampaw, and Cloverpaw had joined the few cats that had bothered to cheer.

"Now, unless anyone else has something to report, this Gathering is at an end," said Eaglestar.

The other leaders shook their heads and jumped down from the rock. Rainpaw noticed Eaglestar watching the ShadowClan cats leave intently.

"Hello," said a voice from behind her, "You probably don't remember me, but I'm Amberfoot. I took care of you for a little while when you and your sisters were kits; before Berryfur could produce enough milk to take care of you."

"Really?" said Rainpaw, "Windfur told me we spent a little time in ShadowClan, but she never mentioned you."



"It was a difficult time for her; I'm not surprised she didn't remember me. After all, she and your mother were very close. Almost losing you as well must have been very painful for her. I know what it's like to lose family; I wouldn't wish that kind of grief on any cat. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am pleased you have been accepted into WindClan, you have grown into fine young cats."

"Thank-you! I'm Rainpaw, by the way," replied Rainpaw.

"Come along sister," said the all-too-familiar voice of Darkfur, "You wouldn't want precious Rainpaw to get left behind, now, would you?"

"Well, good bye, Rainpaw!" called Amberfoot as she followed Darkfur out of the hollow.

Rainpaw called good-bye before joining her own Clan. Privately, she wondered how a nice cat like Amberfoot cold be related to a cat like him. She also wondered how he had known she was Rainpaw; after all, Eaglestar hadn't even said that her and her sisters were even there. She pushed these thoughts away reasoning that he had just over-heard her introduce herself.

The journey back to camp gave Rainpaw no time to think; Snowpaw had filled the time with her mindless chatter. Rainpaw was so tired by time the cats arrived at camp that she fell asleep almost as soon she had closed her eyes.

Leafpaw's POV

Leafpaw just stood there as the ShadowClan deputy stalked up. She felt something wrong about this tom, something dark and sinister. She tried to ignore it; it was jsut because he was another Clan's tom. She took in the scent and smelled something terrible as she scrunched up her nose. Blood. A reeking, fierce aroma. She was surprised that no one else could smell such a strong scent. Why did this tom have this scent, the scent of death.

Leafpaw forced her senses null and ignored the cat called "Darkfur." She glanced around and saw Rainpaw with some other cats she didn't recognize. Rainpaw had a look of deep shock plastered onto her face. She didn't understand what was wrong. Then she remembered; if this cat was from ShadowClan, isn't her father here, too? She tore her head away from Rainpaw and swiftly looked everywhere for her father. She saw no cat that looked like herself, or as Stormheart had said. Nor had she found anyone that looked like Rainpaw or Snowpaw. Where was he, where was Hawkfur?



Leafpaw zoned out and went into deep thought, "Why did this cat, 'Darkfur,' have such a scent? Where is Hawkfur? I know that, somehow, this is connected."

Before Leafpaw could continue onto her thoughts, the voices came back in.

"Whitepaw, Streampaw and Russetpaw," the cats shouted in union.

Leafpaw opened her eyes and watched everyone shout the cats' names. She stared at Russetpaw, holding his head up high, proudly beaming with energy. Leafpaw thought it was quite cute! She looked over by another tom who seemed to be Russetpaw's brother, Streampaw. She ignored everything else until Eaglestar came forth.

"Little has happened in WindClan since the last gathering," he began, "but we have three new apprentices. Snowpaw and Leafpaw are training to be warriors and Rainpaw is in training to be WindClan's next Medicine Cat."

Leafpaw listened to the quiet cheering of the cats. Little of WindClan shouted their names.

"Leafpaw!" Russetpaw and Timberpaw shouted at every chance they got.

She smiled at their enthusiastic attitude. It wasn't long until the gathering was over.

"Bye," she murmured to Russetpaw and Timberpaw.

"I guess I'll see you next time at gathering," Timberpaw replied.

"See you," Russetpaw added in.

They padded away from each other, toward their respective Clans. She saw Rainpaw talking to a she-cat who, from her scent, seemed like she was from ShadowClan.

She turned her senses back on, but she wasn't good at it yet. She heard snippets of their conversation that she shouldn't have listened in the first place.

"rem--m-er me--Am--rf-ot. I took -a-e of you for a li--le w-ile when you and your si--rs you were kits; before Be--yf-r could produce enough --k to take care--"



"Really?" said Rainpaw, "Windfu--nt a little time in Sha--Clan, but she never mentioned you."

"It was a -- for her; I'm not surprised she did--re--ber me. After all, she and your m--r were very close. Almost lo--ing you as well must have been very p--ul for her. I know what it's like to l-se family; I wouldn't w--h that kind of gr--f on any --t. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am p--ed you have b-en accepted into W--n, you have grown into--e you--ats."

Leafpaw saw the death scented tom from earlier and tried to turn her senses off. She was not quick enough and took in a nose-ful of his stench. She shook her head in dismay and watched Rainpaw pad over by her. During the walk back to camp, Snowpaw had spent the whole time talking, leaving no uncomfortable silences. Leafpaw was happy, because she had no idea what to say. This did give her time to think of what had happened. She had learned early on to just nod at Snowpaw and say nothing. During this time, Leafpaw thought, "Who is Darkfur? Who was Rainpaw talking to? What is this ability I have, truly? What is the mystery of the past?" Leafpaw could find no answers to the questions, but was determined to find out. When they had reached camp, when Leafpaw's head reached down, she immediately fell asleep.

That night, Leafpaw had a weird dream. In her dreams, she saw Rainpaw thrashing silently in the Medicine Cat Den. Leafpaw sat there, too, immobilized, staring at Rainpaw's body.

"Gingerpelt, Fernheart," Rainpaw murmured. "Hawkfur."

At Rainpaw's last word, her mind froze. Rainpaw knew about Hawkfur? She quickly shook it off and looked back onto Rainpaw. All of a sudden Rainpaw's eyes burst open. Leafpaw stared in Rainpaw's eyes and saw fright. Leafpaw immersed herself into those eyes as the world around her began to spin. She suddenly saw three cats; two she-cats and one tom that looked like her. She heard a blood curdling scream as all went black. She no longer saw Rainpaw's eyes.

Rainpaw's POV

Rainpaw opened her eyes. Instantly, she knew she was dreaming. The meadow that she stood in was not failure to her. Rainpaw had to admit, though, that it was beautiful. She opened her mouth to scent the air. She caught the scent of three cats, one ShadowClan and two WindClan.



Three starry cats appeared in front of her.

"Hello, young Rainpaw, it is nice to see you again," said the ShadowClan cat.

Rainpaw's eyes stretched wide. "Hawkfur!" she said, "I'm so sorry, I really should have done something… it's my fault you died."

"Hush. It is no one's fault but Darkfur's," he said.

The white she-cat with eyes like Leafpaw's stepped forward. She looked like a mix between Snowpaw and Leafpaw, yet her graceful nature was so much like her own. No, it couldn't be…

"My name is Fernheart, I am your mother," said the she-cat warmly, "This is my mother, Gingerpelt."

Rainpaw's eyes were stretched wide. Her mother had just spoken to her! And her grandmother… Her lost family…

"It is good to see you. You have grown into a lovely young cat. StarClan is pleased with you, and your sisters," said Gingerpelt lovingly.

"Thank-you," murmured Rainpaw, slightly embarrassed. She noticed that, with the exception of having ginger fur, Gingerpelt looked much like Windfur, though she had the same eyes as Rainpaw herself. It was strange to Rainpaw to look into the eyes of the family she had always dreamed of having.

"You are most likely wondering why we have brought you here," said Hawkfur, now looking quite stern.

"I was, I guess," replied Rainpaw. "Is Darkfur going to try anything else?"

Rainpaw's brain was suddenly crammed with questions for the starry cats. She began spewing questions out very fast.

"Peace, little one," said Fernheart. "We have come to tell you something important."

Rainpaw stopped her jabbering at once.

"We came to tell you that the paths you and your sisters walk are long and dangerous, and separate from all who have walked them before. They will twist in ways you will never expect," said Gingerpelt.



"Your loyalties will be tested and re-arranged many times," said Fernheart.

"Darkness will stalk your every move," said Hawkfur.

"Beware of the fourth power of the Scarlet Stone."

"Embrace the powers within yourself."

The voices of all the StarClan cats began to speak as one.

"When dawn breaks on tomorrow, your path will take a new direction. To shape your destiny. And from out of the clutches of darkness, a new legend will be born, your legend. The powers of the mind, sense, sight, and Clan will bring forth the ultimate powers of the Scarlet Stone; beware, for the stars cannot control them."

The meadow began to blur, and suddenly Rainpaw was flying above the WindClan camp. Below her she could see battle, though she could not make out individual cats. A cat's scream pierced the air…

Rainpaw's eyes flashed open. She knew that it was not yet dawn. It was time to tell her sisters about her visions.

--

Rainpaw slipped noiselessly out of the Medicine Den. She padded off towards the spot where the WindClan apprentices slept. She wondered why she was so nervous about finally talking about her visions, after all, in the past she never kept secrets from her sisters. She hoped they would'nt be angry with her.

Rainpaw gave Leafpaw a slight prod in the side. The brown she-cat opened her eyes so Rainpaw moved on to Snowpaw, who jumped about ten fox lengths off the ground when Rainpaw woke her.

"What'd you do that for?" Snowpaw hissed in an angry whisper, "I was having the best dream about Eaglepaw… Oops, you really didn't need to know that…"

"What is it Rainpaw?" muttered Leafpaw, stifling a huge yawn.

"I'm sorry to wake you, but this is really important," Rainpaw said in a serious tone.



"Get on with it, then," said Snowpaw.

Leafpaw murmured something about Snowpaw's lack of manners before gesturing for Rainpaw to continue specking.

"You remember the day when we were made apprentices?" Rainpaw began, "And how I tried to talk to you guys about a dream I had?"

Leafpaw and Snowpaw exchanged guilty looks before nodding.

"Well, it wasn't any ordinary dream. In my dream I saw Hawkfur, the ShadowClan deputy, be murdered by Darkfur."

"You WHAT?!" said Snowpaw and Leafpaw together.

"Darkfur was lying. No rouge murdered Hawkfur."

"How can you be sure?" asked Snowpaw.

"The dream returned several times. Each time, a StarClan warrior told me to 'take heed of what I had seen. and know were danger must be.' They meant that I should know that Darkfur was dangerous; he has already killed once, and he won't hesitate to do it again."

Snowpaw and Leafpaw exchanged bewildered looks.

"There's more too," continued Rainpaw, "Today when you guys were out training, I looked into a stream and I had a vision. That's what Windfur, Eaglestar, and Ravenpelt where talking about earlier today."

"Well, what did you see?" prompted Snowpaw.

"Well," Rainpaw began, "You won't like it but, I saw Darkfur kill many innocent cats. Then I saw us, as fully grown cats stare back at him as if to challenge him. Then I heard a voice that said 'The hawk has taken its last flight'--that meant that Hawkfur had been killed-- 'and nothing except the chosen ones stand in the way of the rise of the darkness feared by all. Danger has come.' That means that, because Hawkfur is dead, Darkfur was going to get his shot at power, and that the forest is doomed unless the 'chosen cats' come though."

"You don't think that we are the chosen cats...do you?" asked Leafpaw in an almost fearful voice.



"I don't' really know," sighed Rainpaw. "But I think we might be. You see, I had one more dream. In fact, I just woke up from it before I came to talk to you."

"Wow, you've barely slept without StarClan sticking their noses into your dreams!" commented Snowpaw.

"Tell me about it," mumbled Rainpaw.

"What was this one about?" asked Leafpaw.

Rainpaw let out a sigh before continuing, her eyes were glazed with worry and her voice shook as she spoke. "Fer-Fernheart, Hawkfur, and Gingerpelt- you know, our mother's mother, visited me. They told me that the paths we walk are dangerous and twisted. That there is a lot of danger coming our way, and it will always be a part of our lives. They also warned me about something called 'The Scarlet Stone.' I have no idea what that is… but it must be important, or else they wouldn't have told me about it."

"We're in danger?" said Leafpaw in awe.

"No, no way! I don't want this!" said Snowpaw.

"StarClan doesn't lie," replied Rainpaw glumly. "The worst part is that I was too chicken to tell you sooner. I mean, we never used to keep secrets like this! Everything is changing! I'm scared, guys! I don't want anything to happen to us!"

"I know," said Snowpaw, "But let's promise not to keep secrets again. I mean, we are sisters and all. You two are still the best friends I have!"

"Let's make a pact to always take care of one another, no matter what. To always be truthful and to be loyal to each other no matter what," said Rainpaw, on the verge of tears. (A/N I KNOW CATS CAN'T CRY! WORK WITH ME HERE!)

"We should promise to protect each other from any danger even at the cost of our own lives. May we never forget our love for each other," added Leafpaw.

"So do we all promise then?" asked Snowpaw.

Rainpaw and Leafpaw nodded their heads.



"Good," said Snowpaw, "Then I can go back to sleep! Some of us have to train tomorrow!"

Rainpaw felt a little better as she turned to leave. It felt good to have a pact with her sisters. She had finally told them! Yet, she was still scared, for the future. She stopped suddenly; they had promised not to keep secrets… Her sisters deserved to know about their father, and now was a good a time as ever to tell them.

Leafpaw seemed to have something on her mind, too. "Wait!" she called.

"What is it now," said Snowpaw in a grumpy tone.

"We promised not to keep secrets," began Leafpaw, "and I have one."

"Me, too," added Rainpaw.

"Hawkfur is our father," they blurted out at the same time.

"WHAT?!" said Snowpaw.

"You already knew?" said Leafpaw to Rainpaw.

"Windfur told me," replied Rainpaw, "how did you find out?"

"Stormheart," hissed Leafpaw.

"Someone want to explain what's going on here?" said Snowpaw, clearly still confused.

"Yes," said a new voice from behind Rainpaw, "I'd like to know that too. What are you three doing awake?"

"Stormheart!" said Leafpaw, "I'm sorry! We were just-"

"Ah, Stormheart," said Eaglestar who had just arrived, "Why don't you take young Rainpaw back to her nest, then you can join the night patrol, since you are already awake. Leafpaw, Snowpaw, go back to sleep, you'll need you energy for tomorrow."

"Yes, Eaglestar," they murmured.



Rainpaw followed Stormheart back to the Medicine Den, were she curled up in her nest. She was asleep within seconds, and this time no dreams disturbed her.

Leafpaw's POV

Leafpaw curled, back up in the safety of her nest. She was shocked at what Rainpaw had told her. She had guessed in some way that Rainpaw knew about Hawkfur being their father, but not in that way. When she had looked at Darkfur at the Gathering, she smelled a scent like no other. The scent of blood; the scent of death. Darkfur had killed her father, and she was pretty sure that he was aiming for her and her sisters now that he was out of the way.

She didn't have time to tell her sisters her second secret. Unknown to anyone, her ability to sense went beyond her capability; or so she thought. There was the dream, but she knew it was not just a dream. She had seen Rainpaw's eyes flash with fright. She had also sensed what Rainpaw had been feeling at the moment, had even seen bits of what Rainpaw had seen. Including three cats and blood, screams, and more.

She shivered at the thought of it, finally piecing the puzzle together. Darkfur was their enemy, Hawkfur was the innocent, and they were the ones who would have to live their lives in the middle of it all. They were specifically chosen to go through a duty whether they come out alive or dead. She knew that their time was to come soon, when they must fulfill who they were. Leafpaw just hoped they were ready.

She saw Rainpaw's wide eyes. Leafpaw also knew she must stay strong, for herself, for her sisters, and for the future of the four Clans. Her eyes shone with a glow like no other. She fell asleep in fright, in bravery, and in hope.

Yep. Another chappie complete! I would like to confirm that this story will have 10 chappies, including and epilogue. After that it's the sequels. I FINALLY figured out how to edit documents that are already on fanfiction, so my early chappies with all the errors are being fixed. There will be no changes made to the plot though. Edited chappie 4 is already up. Also, I am now posting a regular news section on my profile, check it out to find sneak peeks of upcoming chapters and announcements about future fics as well as what fics are being updated and when. Until next time! REVIEW!!

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