A/N- If you do read this, i'd really appreciate it if you review. That way, i know you like it and would like more.

Disclaimer- I don't own warriors. Never have done and never will.

Chapter 7

It was several days later and Silverpelt had healed almost completely. Whitefoot had said he should take it carefully, but he could now resume his training with Icepaw. It was battle training today though, and so he had got Tawnypelt to come and help him. He would demonstrate and explain moves, and then Icepaw would practise them on Tawnypelt. Orangestripe and Mousepaw were also there. Both the apprentices were learning quickly and it was only sunhigh when they were ready to try and take on each other in a small mock-battle. After that, they would battle Brokenpaw and Swiftpaw. And then they would be almost ready to fight in any battle.

Silverpelt watched as the two apprentices writhed and twisted in the centre of the clearing. More than once did Orangestripe have to quickly leap out of the way, or risk having some of her fur clawed out. Silverpelt watched as a shaft of light shone down and made her pelt glow a fiery orange. She has an incredibly beautiful pelt, thought Silverpelt, his gaze fixed on her. Suddenly, he smelt the unmistakable scent of Greystripe. Seconds later, the grey cat charged into the clearing, Brokenpaw and Swiftpaw trailing behind him. He stopped just short of the two fighting cats. With a flick of his tail, he gave the order for Swiftpaw and Brokenpaw to join in. They leapt upon the two other apprentices and the fight became even bigger.

"Brokenpaw has just learnt to fight properly today. He has only fought me and Swiftpaw before now." said Greystripe. "I think I've taught him well." Not too long after, the four apprentices had exhausted themselves and were ready to return to camp. The warriors quickly quizzed them on what they've learnt, the two newer apprentices beating the others easily. Even Swiftpaw, who was nearly a warrior, couldn't remember more than they could. After that, Silverpelt turned to Greystripe and said,

"Could you take all four back? I need to talk to Orangestripe alone for a second." Greystripe nodded and called over the apprentices. Silverpelt padded over to Orangestripe and sat down beside her. She looked around at him.

"This is what I've been waiting for you to say, isn't it?" she asked.

"What ever do you mean?" he replied.

"Say it." she said. Silverpelt moved closer and curled his tail around hers.

"Orangestripe," he began, "You mean more to me than anything else."

"What about the warrior code?"

"If you wanted me to break it for you, I would." She purred at that. He looked deep into her eyes and saw only compassion there. There was no trace at all of the fiery she-cat that most saw. Only a deep love for him. He purred back.

"I will never leave you." he promised. She nodded.

"And I will never leave you."

It was midnight before the two cats returned. As they returned to camp they could only smell one cat in it, but it was enough to make them stop dead in their tracks. They could smell Lionfur!

"She'll rip us apart!" whispered Orangestripe urgently.

"She'll rip us even more if we don't return until dawn!"

"Oh what will we do!?" wailed Orangestripe.

"Quiet, or she'll hear you!" But it was too late. A large, light brown she-cat raced out of the camp and up the slope. She found them stood at the top of the slope.

"Why didn't you return!?" she growled. Orangestripe cowered back.

"We were busy." answered Silverpelt, taking a step forwards. "And it's a private matter that has now been mostly dealt with."

"It had better be." warned Lionfur, "Or I shall personally rip your tail off. And that counts for both of you!" She turned and marched back into camp.

"Come on." urged Silverpelt. "We'd better go back to our nests." The pair of cats slipped down the slope, entered the silent camp and walked across to the warriors den. They slipped inside and curled up in their nests. Silverpelt instantly fell asleep.

He woke up at nearly sunhigh. Greystripe was prodding him. He mumbled a pushed the paw away. It was persistent.

"Wake up. Wake up." said Greystripe. Silverpelt sat up slowly, his eyes only half open.

"What do you want?" he asked drowsily.

"It's almost Patchkit's apprentice ceremony and Swiftpaw's warrior ceremony. Whitestar was impressed with my report of his assessment yesterday."

"Assessment?"

"Yes. I sent him out hunting and followed. He was to return at precisely sunhigh, and he did." Greystripe raised his chin proudly. Silverpelt purred.

"Greystripe," he said.

"Yes, what?"

"Sometimes you behave just like a kit!"

Greystripe leapt at him and the two cats rolled out of the warriors den. They rolled around in the clearing until they bumped into someone. They both collapsed backwards and looked up. Straight at Lionfur's face.

"What do you think you're doing!?" she shrieked. "It's not too ad for Greystripe, but Silverpelt," she turned and stared straight at him, "Isn't it enough that I cautioned you yesterday?!" Suddenly there was a purr behind Lionfur. She span around spitting. And saw Whitestar.

"Lionfur?" he asked. She shuffled her paws, the first time that Silverpelt had ever seen her do so. He reckoned he would never see it again either.

"These two were rolling around the clearing hissing.." she began.

"I'm well aware of what they were doing, Lionfur." interrupted Whitestar, "But I say they shall not be punished."

"But, but, but…" protested Lionfur feebly.

"They will not be punished." Whitestar stared at her. Silverpelt got the feeling he was gazing into her. Stripping away all the layers of courage and status. And finding a frightened kit within.

Lionfur looked at the ground. Whitestar turned and walked away. Lionfur turned and looked at Silverpelt and Greystripe. For a second, Silverpelt thought he saw a glimpse of the kit that Whitestar had revealed. But then it was gone in a burst of rage. She glowered at him and Greystripe. Silverpelt thought he had seen that glare before. It puzzled him. He looked deeply into it. And then he saw something. Her eyes were like another cat's that he knew. But who?

She turned and stalked away. That stalk was similar too. He just hadn't noticed until now. In fact, her whole posture and structure reminded him of another cat.

And then it hit him.

Lionfur was a spitting image of Tigerpelt.

"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here, beneath the highrock, for a clan meeting!"

Silverpelt slunk over and sat next to Orangestripe. She looked at him and purred. Then they both turned and looked at the highrock. Patchkit was creeping towards it. Heavyfur had walked out of the nursery, beaming with pride. Patchkit was a brown and black kit with long fur. It was unnerving how much the six moon old kit's fur was glossy, like his father's. the kit looked nervous. He had been ever since his father had been banished. Brightmane was smiling. He was obviously happy about something. But Silverpelt didn't know what. He glanced at Orangestripe. She too was staring at Brightmane. And she also looked concerned. Then, Silverpelt discovered why. While he had been looking at Brightmane, the ceremony had started. Patchkit was now stood infront of the highrock and Whitestar was ready to announce his mentor.

"Lionfur," he said. A sharp pang tore at Silverpelt. They would corrupt Patchkit too! He noticed that Heavyfur was equally shaken.

"Lionfur, you do not have an apprentice and I trust you to train this one hard. You shall be mentor to Patchpaw." She stepped up, next to the apprentice.

"You have shown yourself to be a tough and wise warrior. I trust you to pass on your bravery and intelligence to Patchpaw." Patchpaw touched noses with Lionfur and all the cats praised his new name. Silverpelt cheered too, but it was half-hearted and he was too nervous to approach. Lionfur glanced at him and smirked. She's up to something, thought Silverpelt. He walked over to Heavyfur. She was sat down, washing her paws. As he got nearer, he noticed she was shaking.

"You're shaking." he said.

"I'm just cold." she said. This couldn't be true. It was too warm.

"You're worried about your son. I am too."

"What does it matter to you?!" she cried. "I don't want him to be corrupted! I wanted Tawnypelt to mentor him, but Lionfur threatened me! She said even if I did want Tawnypelt to be his mentor, she would tell Whitestar I wanted her! It's horrible!" All the cats were staring now, even Lionfur and Patchpaw. Whitestar leapt off the highrock and walked over.

"Is this true Lionfur?" he asked.

"Oh, your classic suspicious line that, isn't it? 'Is this true?'. It makes me sick!" retorted Lionfur.

"Don't speak to your leader like that!" shouted Heavyfur.

"I'll speak how I want!" spat Lionfur. She sprang at Whitestar and knocked him to the ground. She tried to bite at his throat, but he grabbed her front leg and twisted it away, tilting her off him. Seizing the opportunity, Silverpelt leapt onto of Lionfur, pinning her to the ground. She writhed and lashed out, knocking Silverpelt off of her. She lunged at him and bit down hard. He felt his whole world spin and the darkness crept in. The last thing he heard was Orangestripe's voice crying out,

"Silverpelt!"

Then everything went black.

Redpaw was nervous. Everyone thought he was going mad, even himself. But he had a reason. It was his dream at the Moonpool. Not only had he seen a vision of Frostear's death, but he had seen something much worse. A silver cat had stood, surrounded by darkness. A giant, snarling ginger cat, with dark stripes, had reared up over this cat. A beam of light had reflected off the silver cat's coat, illuminating the surroundings. The dead bodies of several cats lay there. Lionfur, Brightmane, Patchpaw, Heavyfur, Mousetail, Spottednose and Tatteredfur. But one body that lay there had terrified him more than anything else. Because he had seen a cat with a ginger coat and a red nose lying dead. He had seen himself lying dead. The silver cat had faded. A voice had said,

"If the tiger is not to claim the forest, all these must die before the half moon. If this happens, Starclan shall rise up and destroy the beast." It had then said, "You must kill one of these cats, Redpaw. But not yourself. We will find a way to let you join us." But even more terrifying than knowing he must die, was the voice that had told him that. It had been the voice of Sandwhisker, his mother.

Things were not going well back in camp either. Silverpelt was unconscious, and had been for several days. Swiftpaw was furious that his warrior ceremony had been delayed, and Lionfur was caged up like a prisoner. Tawnypelt, although not being his proper mentor, had been taking Patchpaw out for warrior training. Brightmane had been disgusted at this and was in a ferocious mood. And now he was taking it out on Brokenpaw. Icepaw was constantly in the medicine cats den, along with Orangestripe. Mousepaw was going out with Tawnypelt and Patchpaw for training. The whole camp was in chaos.

It was midnight. Redpaw crept out of his den and padded over to the warriors den. Now Patchpaw was an apprentice, Heavyfur had returned to being a warrior. Redpaw was ready to carry out his bit of the prophecy. He crept inside and prodded at Heavyfur. She moved and her eyes flickered open.

"Come," he told her, "Starclan has a destiny for you."

"Can't it wait?" she asked.

"No. Come." She got up and he led her out into the clearing. She sat down.

"What is it?" she questioned.

Redpaw looked at her for a second, then walked forwards. He stopped infront of her and unsheathed his claws.

"Wh... wh… what is it?" she asked again, trembling this time.

"Starclan want you to join them." said Redpaw. He leapt forwards. Heavyfur cried out, but was quickly silenced. Redpaw stood over the body for a moment, then walked quickly back to his den.

The camp was in even more chaos the following morning. Orangestripe emerged from the warriors den to find most of the clan gathered around a body in the centre of the clearing. She padded over and looked at it. It was Heavyfur. Her blood had congealed around her and matted her fur. Greystripe and Tawnypelt were arguing about who had killed her.

"The fur is ginger!" wailed Tawnypelt. "It must have been Tigerpelt out for revenge!" Heavyfur had been Tawnypelt's mother and her daughter was incredibly distressed at her death.

"Yes but Tigerpelt has dark ginger fur, this fur is bright ginger." protested Greystripe.

"What, like Orangestripe's." questioned Tawnypelt.

"Yeah. Funny she wasn't here when Brightmane, Redpaw and Mousepaw discovered the body."

"She's just woken up now actually." added Tawnypelt, nodding in Orangestripe's direction. Infact, a lot of cats were staring at Orangestripe and coming to the same conclusion. Orangestripe had been Sandwhisker's sister and they had both shared similar coloured pelts. Except Orangestripe also had white stripes.

"It wasn't me." she said.

"How do we know? You are the last cat to wake up. You can't have had much sleep." said Whitestar.

"And the fur between Heavyfur's claws is the same colour as yours." added Brightmane.

"Orangestripe," began Whitestar. "We cannot definitely prove that you murdered Heavyfur. But all the evidence points to you, and as a result, I declare that you are to be held captive within the nursery, as there are no current queens or she-cats expecting kits."

"Except me." she said.

"What?" asked Whitestar. All the other cats shared his puzzlement.

"I love Silverpelt so much and he loves me and… well, I'm expecting kits." she explained.

"That also adds to the reasons why we should imprison you in the nursery." said Whitestar. "Take her away."

Brightmane and Tawnypelt stepped forwards and both seized her by the scruff of her neck. She was dragged away and thrown into the nursery. She faintly heard Whitestar say,

"From now on there are always to be two cats guarding the nursery to prevent her escaping. I want daily reports on her."

She turned her back to the entrance and lay down. Why had they accused her, she was innocent! The ginger fur wasn't quite the right shade to match hers. It had been slightly darker. But one question was puzzling her the most.

Who had killed Heavyfur, and why?