Hey, long time no update! While I've been working on my other fanfic, this story has been on hold for a (very) long time; now, as I'm coming back to it, I hope I still have some loyal (re)viewers out there who remember this story! For those of you who have forgotten a lot of this, I recommend skimming over the previous chapters for a quick recap. I know it's been awhile, but I hope to get this back on its feet!

Chapter 10:

RiverClan

Tinypaw followed Skullpaw as he led her into the woods surrounding the Gathering clearing, the murmurs of their Clanmates muffled by the trees and the forest around them peaceful and quiet. Tinypaw breathed in fresh lungfuls of air, glad to be out of the crowds of cats at the Gathering.

"What's up, Skullpaw?" Tinypaw asked as she sat across from the white tom curiously. She stifled her excitement at seeing him again, and he smiled at her.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to see how you were, what with the drought and all." Skullpaw asked; he sounded somewhat shy, his voice low and nervous. Tinypaw felt herself blush, but she shook the feeling away.

"Well," Tinypaw began, unsure where to start. She thought of her strange encounter with the ginger tom, and the ominous trail of blood leading to TwolegPlace. "there was something mysterious that happened awhile ago near half-bridge..."

Skullpaw's ears twitched, and he looked up at her with disbelief in his eyes. "Really? What...happened?" He sounded somewhat fearful, and Tinypaw cocked her head to the side but didn't react openly to his strange tone.

Tinypaw told Skullpaw about the trail of blood leading from the mangled raven below half-bridge to the edge of the TwolegPlace, where a cat scent disappeared inside the mysterious territory. Skullpaw seemed anxious at this news, especially after Tinypaw told him she had shared this information with someone else already.

"What did that strange cat you met look like?" Skullpaw asked, his tail flicking back and forth in agitation; he kept looking behind him, to where the cats of each Clan were still gathering to leave.

"He was a ginger tabby, kind of small, green eyes." Tinypaw blinked. "In fact, I...think I've met him before..."

"What?" Skullpaw asked sharply. "Why didn't you tell anyone? He could be a rogue, or...or some other sort of threat." Tinypaw noticed that Skullpaw seemed to be floundering for the right words, but she shushed him with a flick of her tail over his mouth.

"Calm down. I didn't get where he was from, but he was probably some random loner who decided to mess with someone as a prank." Tinypaw tried to reassure her friend, but he looked far from convinced.

"Actually, there was something I wanted to talk to you about." Skullpaw murmured, shuffling his feet. Tinypaw curled her tail around her paws, ears twitching to hear what he had to say.

Skullpaw paused. "...Do you remember that night when we were hunting, when ShadowClan was still recovering from the fire...?" Tinypaw nodded; how could she forget? She would always remember that beautiful moment when the fireflies had alighted around them, casting a warm glow on them as they shared a pure moment of peace.

"Well, there was something going on around that time that I didn't tell you." Skullpaw took a ragged breath. "You see, the cat you were talking about...I know him."

Tinypaw's eyes widened; her heart turned cold with fear. "What?" She was too overwhelmed to speak, memories flooding back to her; so the cats she had spied on so long ago, they had definitely been Skullpaw and this strange cat...? That laugh, and the stink on his breath...Tinypaw didn't understand how she hadn't made the connection before.

Skullpaw didn't meet her gaze. "I've known him for a long time. He's a good friend of mine. He's not from the Clans, but he wants to help them." Skullpaw looked up, meeting her steady blue gaze with his fiery golden one, daring her to challenge him.

Instead, Tinypaw sighed, all frustration gone. "Actually, there's something else I've been hiding too." This time, it was Skullpaw's turn to blink in surprise.

"A few moons ago, before the fire, I spied on you meeting with the ginger tom. I didn't realize the tom was the same one I met a few suns ago until just now." Tinypaw looked away from him, suddenly embarrassed. "I was afraid to approach you because I was frightened that you'd recognize me and attack me for spying."

There was a small pause, in which Tinypaw looked up to find that Skullpaw had moved to sit beside her; she held her breath as their pelts touched, and warmth stubbornly returned to her cheeks.

"Now that I know you, I'd never attack you." Skullpaw mewed firmly; Tinypaw was surprised at the conviction in his tone. "And I'd never hurt any of my friends from the other Clans, either."

Skullpaw looked at her, and for a brief moment as their eyes met something was released from her heart, like a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

The moment passed as quickly as it came, however, and Skullpaw stood. "We should get back to our Clans." He nodded at Tinypaw, face passive once more. "It was nice talking to you again."

Tinypaw nodded, slightly glum that their time together had been so short. She stood as well, shaking out her fur mostly to erase the goosebumps that tingled up her spine at the thought of Skullpaw being so close to her; he practically admitted that he felt the need to protect her...a sure sign that he liked her, too. Tinypaw smiled at the thought.

Tinypaw trotted back into the clearing, making sure to enter from a different spot than Skullpaw so as not to arouse suspicion. She rejoined the RiverClan Gathering patrol, tuning in to their murmurings.

"I still can't believe Mistpool missed the medicine cat meeting at half-moon," Nightfall murmured to Icepool, her dark auburn pelt bristling slightly at the neck. "I hope StarClan doesn't frown upon us for this."

Icepool looked at her with sympathetic blue eyes. "StarClan understands that the Clans go through some tough times in which the warrior code is broken; I'm sure they don't think badly of Mistpool for something as insignificant as this."

"I hope you're right." Nighfall replied. "But if this dry season continues, StarClan may not be so lenient when more cats fall ill." Tinypaw shivered at the ominous words.

When two of the queens had fallen ill with coughs, Mistpool and her new apprentice had done everything in their power to ease their pain before half-moon, but to no avail; half-moon came and went with them still working tirelessly by the queens' sides, unable to leave them in fear that their conditions would worsen. Tinypaw had helped them out as much as she could, seeing as she was in the medicine den so often herself with her training injuries.

Still, Tinypaw hoped that Mistpool had spoken with the other medicine cats about the unexpected sickness at the Gathering tonight; it wasn't often that cats got sick in the middle of green-leaf, and the other Clans deserved to know about it. While Blazestar hadn't mentioned anything about the sickness in fear of looking weak, Tinypaw knew it was only a matter of time before the news spread through all the Clans through the medicine cats; she at least hoped that they would give them advice on how to handle the situation.

A warm breeze stirred Tinypaw's fur as she trotted to the end of the tree trunk that bridged the gap between the Gathering island and dry land, and Tinypaw gingerly picked her way along the enormous trunk and to the other side. As soon as she hopped down, however, a few WindClan apprentices padded to stand in front of her, making Tinypaw stop abruptly.

"Excuse me." Tinypaw mewed politely, attempting to move around them; however, a big silver-and-white tom Tinypaw recognized as Silverpaw blocked her way.

"Just like a RiverClan cat to try and slip away like a skinny little fish." He growled, and Tinypaw was thoroughly surprised by his hostile tone.

"I'm not a fish, thank you very much." Tinypaw mewed indignantly. "Now please move out of the way, Silverpaw." Tinypaw felt a prickle of unease itch down her spine as Silverpaw snickered, the tan tom beside him blocking the way behind her.

"Look, Gorgepaw, this fish bites back!" Silverpaw continued, his tone mocking. He took a step toward her, and Tinypaw cowered in his tall shadow. He moved to cuff her over the ear, but she bristled and hissed at him. He only laughed, and Tinypaw felt her heart thud madly in her chest. She looked desperately around her, but in the shadow of the tree-bridge no cat seemed to notice her predicament.

"Back off, Silverpaw." Tinypaw was relieved to hear the sound of Riverpaw's voice behind her, and she turned to look at the silver she-cat standing atop the tree-bridge, looking down on them with an irritated expression. Riverpaw hopped down between Tinypaw and Silverpaw, her stance strong and demanding.

Silverpaw made a scoffing noise. "For what? It's not like I was going to hurt her that much." Silverpaw looked behind Riverpaw to meet Tinypaw with a cruel, hostile glare that shocked her with its frostiness.

"It's the fact that you were going to hurt her at all that bugs me. Now, back off. We're leaving." Riverpaw mewed pointedly, her tail-tip twitching in annoyance. Silverpaw snorted in frustration, gave Tinypaw a look of disgust, then trotted off with Gorgepaw at his heels.

"Jerks." Riverpaw mewed under her breath. She turned around to face Tinypaw, sincere worry in her eyes. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into them." Her voice suggested that she wasn't surprised by how they acted, but Tinypaw decided not to ask her about it.

"It's okay. And thanks for helping me." Tinypaw answered, warmth in her voice. Riverpaw nodded stiffly, turning and bounding back toward her own Clan, who was already cresting the distant hills of the moorland. Tinypaw took one last look at the cats before they disappeared from sight, then bounded after her own Clan in the opposite direction.

I wonder what that was about...Tinypaw mused as she slowed to a trot behind the Gathering patrol. She remember the harsh look in both of the apprentices' eyes, as if they looked down on her as a piece of dirt. And the minute I thought WindClan was doing us a favor in giving us the HorsePlace. I wonder what their true motives are...

Tinypaw looked back as the Gathering islandfaded out of sight behind her, becoming a murky shadow in the gloom of nightfall as she followed her patrol back to camp. She sighed inwardly at the thought of leaving camp againto meet her friends in two suns without any cats' permission, yet she also felt another rush of excitement at the thought of a prophecy.

I wonder why StarClan only gave it to Riverpaw, Tinypaw thought, feeling a slight twinge of jealousy. And why does it have to be so complicated?

Tinypaw shivered. She remembered feeling a strike of fear at the part of the prophecy that meant, "the paws of Death", and she couldn't imagine what kinds of horrors would arise if Death actually came in a cat form. Tinypaw had never liked the mention of death anywhere; one time, as a kit, she had seen a patrol dragging in a small, young heron by the feet into camp, and though she and her littermates had gotten the best parts of the prey, she couldn't shake the feeling of dread when the dead, lifeless eyes of the heron had landed on her as it was dragged across the clearing. She had always wondered since then where other animals went after they died, and had prayed silently to StarClan to protect and be peaceful to the souls of the prey they ate.

Now, Tinypaw didn't give a second thought at where her prey's soul went after she killed it, for she had been on numerous hunting patrols and had long since forgotten the feelings of remorse she felt at killing prey. But the thought of where souls went after they died still lingered with her, and she had hoped that StarClan would be welcoming to the spirits that entered their ranks eventually; however, the prophecy stated that a tiny wing would fall at the paws of death, and though Tinypaw didn't really understand what that meant, she felt it had something to do with StarClan in some way.

Tinypaw was so absorbed in her thoughts that she hadn't realized she'd been veering off toward the lakeshore; it wasn't until Echopaw gave her a warning yowl that she realized she was slipping into the murky water. She struggled to turn around, but she slipped and fell headfirst into the mud.

"Fox dung!" Tinypaw growled. She stood, attempting to step forward, only to find that the mud was still sucking her down; she forced down the panic in her throat as she tried to lift her legs, but the mud clung to her tightly and wouldn't let her move.

"I'm stuck!" She wailed.

Echopaw trotted closer to the lakeshore, now a couple tail-lengths away from Tinypaw but still farther than she could reach him. "Don't worry. Loudheart's gone to fetch a stick. We'll pull you out!" Tinypaw struggled to walk forward, but she only faltered again and sunk lower into the water. She felt the iciness of the black water that lapped at her shoulders now, and Tinypaw lifted her head high to avoid getting her head wet.

"Tinypaw! Here you go!" Tinypaw stopped her struggling and turned to the lakeshore, where Loudheart and Cougarfang were holding a long stick together in their jaws. They held it out precariously to Tinypaw, who grasped the very end with her teeth.

"Pull!" Loudheart mumbled around the stick in her mouth. Her and Cougarfang pulled backward, and Tinypaw heard sucking noises as the mud gave way.

"Harder! I think it's working." Tinypaw felt herself elevating ever so slightly, and she could move forward a bit toward the shore. Icepool was calling to her with Echopaw, helping to push aside the reeds and cattails to make Tinypaw's journey a bit easier.

"A 'ittle 'arder!" Cougarfang murmured, his jaws wrapped tightly around the stick. With one final pull and a loud pop, Tinypaw was released from the mud bank. She sloshed over to Echopaw and Icepool, shaking out her fur and flopping onto the ground.

"Thank you." She panted. Icepool noticed her shivering and began licking Tinypaw's fur the wrong way to help her warm up. Once Tinypaw was dry enough, she stood on shaky paws, hissing in irritation as she saw her mud-covered legs.

"Mouse dung! This'll be a nuisance to clean." Tinypaw already began licking the mud closest to her shoulder, wincing at the taste of muddy water and grime.

Echopaw pressed closer to her for warmth and comfort. "It's all right. You were pretty brave, anyway; you seemed more irritated than scared."

Tinypaw chuckled. "Thanks. I'm just glad it wasn't some WindClan cat we had to rescue; any of them would've been bawling at the idea of getting their fur wet." Tinypaw resisted the urge to cringe at her own words, remembering Silverpaw's icy glare.

Echopaw purred with amusement. The rest of the walk back was silent, save for a brief conversation with Sparrowfeather on guard at the entrance to camp, and Tinypaw felt the warm, welcoming scents of fish and cat tickling her nose. She sat down wearily beside the fresh-kill pile, her appetite lost with her muddy excursion, and she waited as Echopaw, Cougarfang, Loudheart, Icepool, Darkfoot, Mistpool, and Sandpaw sat down to eat a quick meal before bed. Thunderbreeze was organizing a moon-high patrol as Moontail and Tigerblaze padded out of the warriors' den, yawning and licking their fur back as they prepared to head out. Tinypaw saw Fishsplash near the dirt place reeds, and she watched as he padded past her.

He flicked his tail-tip over her shoulder, not glancing her way. "Come on. We have a patrol to do." Tinypaw stifled a sigh, feeling a surge of frustration; her "mentor" knew fully well she had just returned from a Gathering, yet he was asking her to go on a moon-high patrol.

Next the fox-heart's going to ask me to get him his morning prey while I clean out his ticks; 'Oh, and by the way, Tinypaw, you should join another hunting patrol; that vole was certainly not big enough, Tinypaw, you should practice your stalking.' Well, you know what, I would practice my stalking, if you took the time to pay attention and teach me something for once, instead of me working my tail off over your complaints! Tinypaw stalked after her mentor with these raging thoughts in mind, feeling her fatigue catching up to her. She padded past the medicine den, smelling the rank scents of infection and sickness wafting through the entrance.

Tinypaw dragged herself over to the reed-covered camp entrance, her eyelids drooping. Noticing her, Icepool steered Tinypaw away from the entrance and pushed the apprentice gently in the direction of the apprentices' den.

"Go along now, you need your rest. You just got back from the Gathering and fell in a mud hole; for StarClan's sake, take a break!" Icepool mewed in exasperation.

"But Fishsplash - " Tinypaw protested, feeling a twinge of fear at the thought of disobeying her already frightening mentor; she didn't want to upset him after their little agreement - her keeping silent about him killing Creekpaw and following his orders in exchange for her life - had been going so...smoothly.

"I'll worry about him." Icepool's tail flicked in annoyance. "That tom..." Tinypaw dipped her head gratefully to the warrior as she padded into the cool darkness of the apprentices' den, collapsing in her nest and falling asleep almost instantly.

Tinypaw awoke to find the apprentices' den empty and a busy murmur outside in the clearing. She stood, feeling the dried mud itch against her skin, and padded out into the sunlight.

The camp was busy, as usual, with apprentices running around doing duties and warriors chatting and eating fresh-kill in the feeble shade of the reeds and bushes around camp. The sun was already beating down on Tinypaw's back, making her mud-covered pelt more uncomfortable. She meowed a greeting as she walked toward Echopaw and Bubblepaw, who were sharing tongues beneath the shade of the willow tree that marked the entrance to the medicine den.

"Morning." Bubblepaw greeted Tinypaw. She eyed Tinypaw's muddy pelt with reluctance. "Look, I know we're sharing tongues, but..."

"It's okay." Tinypaw purred, flicking her tail in amusement. "I won't trouble anybody with my pelt." Tinypaw slumped to the ground beside them, stretching out her legs to begin the arduous process of cleaning herself.

After a moment of silence, Bubblepaw spoke. "So, how did the Gathering go? I heard there was some tension between ThunderClan and WindClan."

"Well, it's to be expected after the shock they gave us." Tinypaw turned around to see Fishsplash trotting towards them, and a bubble of hatred brewed in her belly.

Bubblepaw blinked at the warrior innocently. "Really? What was it?"

Fishsplash flicked his tail irritably. "Only that they're driving wolves into the Clans."

"What?" Bubblepaw exclaimed, her pelt bristling. Her ears folded back on her head, and Tinypaw felt a flash of annoyance toward her mentor for scaring the newer apprentice.

"It's not that bad." Tinypaw attempted to reassure the frantic she-cat. "They only attacked once, and besides, Tawnystar said he'd drive them away." Tinypaw felt the need to defend Riverpaw's Clan, even though it wasn't her own; her friend deserved to have a little respect for her Clan.

"Please." Fishsplash scoffed. "Tawnystar's all talk and no stalk. I mean, come on! When have we ever seen him do something that has actually been helpful?"

Tinypaw bristled, but before she could retort, Echopaw mewed calmly, "Those are some strong words, Fishsplash. Are you prepared to defend them?"

Fishsplash flexed his claws, brown eyes glinting. "Don't talk to your superior that way."

"Look who's calling the fish rotten." Tinypaw mewed pointedly. Bubblepaw stifled a giggle at Fishsplash's red cheeks.

"Come on, Tinypaw. We're training again today." Tinypaw stifled a groan of exasperation as Fishsplash stalked away, his tail swishing back and forth.

"Well somebody's in a good mood today." Bubblepaw sent a sympathetic glance at Tinypaw as she stood stiffly, shaking out her mud-plastered fur in an attempt to loosen the dirt and anger that clung to her skin. "I'm sorry you have to deal with that every day."

"Thanks, but I'll be okay." Tinypaw smiled weakly at Bubblepaw, then followed her mentor out of the clearing and into another brutal training session.

Once outside of camp, Fishsplash whirled on Tinypaw, making her stop abruptly and flatten her ears back in surprise.

"What was that about? Making me look like a fool?" Fishsplash snarled. Tinypapw flinched back as he attempted to cuff her over the ears with a sheathed paw. However, Tinypaw perked up, her eyes glaring with defiance.

You don't need my help to look like a fool! You've got it all figured out on your own! Tinypaw wanted to scream. Instead, she replied tartly, "It's not my fault you insulted a leader and contradicted yourself." She figured that because she was stating facts that could be backed up by two other witnesses, she was safe from any consequences by Blazestar.

"Next time you decide to mouth off to your mentor, think again!" Fishsplash growled. He met Tinypaw's gaze levelly. "Don't forget, I can terminate our agreement at any time." Tinypaw noticed his clever wording, as no one who might be listening would understand what he was saying.

To his surprise as well as her own, Tinypaw didn't flinch away. "I'm going to call you on your bluff early this time, Fishsplash, and say that you'd be making a big mistake if you killed me." Tinypaw welcomed the rage that flowed through her, imagining her eyes burning through his fur and into his heart. "I'm sick and tired of your games, Fishsplash; don't forget, this agreement is two-sided. I can kill it just as easily as you can." They stood for a few more moments, and Tinypaw thought with satisfaction that a flash of understanding echoed beneath Fishsplash's dead stare.

After what seemed like moons, Fishsplash stepped back, sitting down and curling his tail around his paws. "I see you're getting stronger, Tinypaw." Tinypaw's anger wavered, confusion replacing it.

Fishsplash smirked, noticing her hesitation to respond. "I've trained you well." His eyes flashed with ambition, and Tinypaw felt understanding flow through her.

"You've...been waiting for a reaction..." Tinypaw murmured, confusion etched in her words. "But why?"

Fishsplash chuckled, and Tinypaw got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Fishsplash stood, beckoning Tinypaw with her tail. "Come. Let us start our real training."

Tinypaw stood, her claws sinking into the dirt, contemplating. What is this? Who is Fishsplash? Tinypaw cautiously followed her mentor as they headed toward the training clearing, all tension and anger between them replaced by Tinypaw's confusion and Fishsplash's sudden calm and serenity.

The clearing was empty when they entered it, the sun beating down on the hard-packed mud and a warm wind whistling between the reeds. Tinypaw sat down across from Fishsplash, shifting her paws uncomfortably as he flicked his tail back and forth across the ground.

"What's up? What do you mean by 'real training'?" Tinypaw asked after a moment of silence. Fishsplash's eyes were unresponsive.

"Do you know why I'm trusting you with this secret?" Fishsplash purred, all anger gone from his voice.

Tinypaw blinked. "Err, because I'll get you exiled if you don't?" She kept her tone challenging; she wasn't about to let her guard down.

"Ever since the fire in ShadowClan, I've seen something...different about you." Fishsplash mewed, thoughtful. His brown eyes flashed. "Why do you think I offered to be your mentor?"

Tinypaw narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "To keep an eye on me so I wouldn't spill your secrets."

Fishsplash purred. "See? This is exactly why I chose you, Tinypaw. It's all so simple in that little noggin of yours."

"What I'd like to know is why you've been torturing me for so long, and then suddenly decide to teach me something." Tinypaw murmured bitterly.

"You'll learn plenty in due time. All I want to do is make another little...bargain with you." Fishsplash's tone was nonchalant and conversational, as if they were discussing the weather. Tinypaw's pelt prickled with suspicion.

"What is it you're planning? You're already a murderer; you can't go further than that." Tinypaw matched Fishsplash's cool tone, sheathing and unsheathing her claws nervously.

Fishsplash stalked toward her, his muscles rippling under his skin as he powerfully circled her. "All I ask of you is that you run a little errand for me, and I'll start your real warrior training." Tinypaw's heart ached with longing at the thought of actually having a real mentor, but she wouldn't let herself be convinced so easily.

"What do you want me to do, anyway?" Tinypaw mewed quietly.

Fishsplash's eyes flashed. "A friend of mine requests an audience with you and select others in two suns' time at the Gathering island at moon-high. All you have to do is show up." Tinypaw's blood ran cold as ice; how did Fishsplash know she was seeing her friends at the exact same time?

Tinypaw didn't know what to do. She badly wanted to refuse Fishsplash's request, but at the same time she couldn't just ditch her friends. Tinypaw thought desperately of other options, but she came up blank.

After a moment of silence, Fishsplash sighed mournfully. "Ah, well. Your death vigil, then. It truly is a pity I never taught you anything..."

"Wait." Fishsplash's ears perked up at Tinypaw's small mew. "...I'll do it, but not for you. I have my own reasons."

"As long as we're on the same terms." Fishsplash sounded somewhat relieved, his tail-tip curling in delight. He smiled at Tinypaw, but she knew it was far from sincere.

"Come on, let's just train already." Tinypaw snapped. Her pelt prickled with shame; she was being used all over again. The second she had felt like she was in control, Fishsplash was one step ahead of her.

"I don't have to go with you, if that makes you feel any better." Fishsplash mewed with innocent reassurance. "But you can bring another friend along to be brave for you."

"Whatever." Tinypaw was done talking about it; all she wanted to do was pound that oily smirk off his face in a good sparring session.

Fishsplash ducked into a crouch. "All right. Begin!"

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